sure

Alternative forms

• sho
• sho'

Etymology

From Middle English sure, seur, sur, from Middle French sur or Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus (“secure”, literally “carefree”), from sē- (“apart”) + cūra (“care”) (compare Old English orsorg (“carefree”), from or- (“without”) + sorg (“care”)). See cure. Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewis, ġewiss (“certain, sure”)), Middle English siker (“sure, secure”) (from Old English sicor (“secure, sure”)).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʃɔː/, /ʃʊə/
• Rhymes: -ʊə(r), -ɔː(r)
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ʃʊɹ/, /ʃɔɹ/, /ʃɝ/
• (General Australian, General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ʃoː/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ʃ(ə)ɹ/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /sjuːɹ/, /sɪwɹ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophones: shaw, Shaw (in some non-rhotic dialects); shore (in some dialects)

Adjective

sure (comparative surer, superlative surest)

1. Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.

   This investment is a sure thing.   The bailiff had a sure grip on the prisoner's arm.

2. Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
   • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, in The Celebrity:

     The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.

   He was sure she was lying.   I am sure of my eventual death.   John was acting sure of himself but in truth had doubts.

3. Certain to act or be a specified way.

   Be sure to lock the door when you leave.

4. (obsolete) Free from danger; safe; secure.
   • Shakespeare

     Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; / If we recover that we are sure enough.

5. (obsolete) Betrothed; engaged to marry.
   • Sir T. More

     The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.

   • Brome

     I presume […] that you had been sure as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife.

Adverb

sure (comparative more sure, superlative most sure)

1. (modal adverb) Without doubt, certainly.

   Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?

   "Did you kill that bear yourself? ―"I sure did!"

   • Charles Lamb

     These high and gusty relishes of life, sure,
     Have no allayings of mortality in them.

Interjection

sure

1. Yes. (Expresses noncommittal agreement or consent.)

   "Do you want me to put this in the garage?" "Sure, go ahead."

2. Yes; of course.

   "Could you tell me where the washrooms are?" "Sure, they're in the corner over there."

Anagrams

• ERUs, Ersu, Reus, Rues, Ruse, US'er, rues, ruse, suer, ures, user

Adjective

sure

1. definite and plural of sur

Verb

sure

1. Indicative present connegative form of surra.
2. Second-person singular imperative present form of surra.
3. Second-person singular imperative present connegative form of surra.

Anagrams

• resu

Adjective

sure

1. feminine singular of sur

Anagrams

• rues
• ruse, rusé
• suer
• user

Etymology 1

From Old French seür, from Latin sēcūrus. Doublet of siker.

Etymology 2

From sure (noun).

Adjective

sure

1. singular definite of sur
2. plural of sur

Adjective

sure

1. singular definite of sur
2. plural of sur

Etymology

From Germanic, related to sūr (“sour”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsuːre/

Noun

sūre f

1. sorrel

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsure/

Adjective

sure

1. feminine singular genitive form of sur
2. feminine singular dative form of sur
3. feminine plural nominative form of sur
4. feminine plural accusative form of sur
5. neuter plural nominative form of sur
6. neuter plural accusative form of sur
7. feminine plural genitive form of sur
8. feminine plural dative form of sur
9. neuter plural genitive form of sur
10. neuter plural dative form of sur

Adjective

sure

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of sur.

Etymology

From Arabic سُورَة‎ (sūra).

Noun

sure (definite accusative sureyi, plural sureler)

1. sura