sickernessn.
Obsolete exc. Scottish.† 2. Sense of security; self-confidence. Obsolete.† 4. Security for the performance of a treaty, contract, etc.; an instance of this, a bond, pledge.† 5. Sure keeping; safe custody. Obsolete.
1. † a. Certain prospect or possession of something; assurance; certainty. Also with infinitive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > certain prospect or possession > [noun]
sickernessc1100
sickerty1405
sureness1419
surety1453
certitude1597
securancec1642
c1100 in A. S. Napier Contrib. Old Eng. Lexicogr. 57 Heo habbeð blisse for þære sicornysse Godes rices.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 27017 Again þe toþer hoping, þat es In werldes welth [to] hald sikernes, We find a..sample laid.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter i. 1 Þe ferth is sykirnes neuer to lose þat goed.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 134 I not in what manere I scholde Of worldes good have sikernesse.
c1460 Wisdom in Macro Plays 37 He xall..dey in sekyrnes of joy perpetualle.
1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 1597 Twene hope and drede My lyfe I lede, But of my spede Small sekernes.
b. Certainty with regard to fact.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun]
mid iwissea1000
certaina1300
certaintya1340
sickerness1390
sickerty1405
sureness1419
redinessc1425
suretyc1425
surenessa1475
assurancec1485
certitude1538
constancy1563
assuredness1570
certainness1571
confirmedness1667
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 105 He doth al his thing be gesse, And voideth alle sikerness.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3472 Oure lauerd..Had don hir in to sikernes..Quat suld be þaa childer vie.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 162 She sayeth as yf yt were paste for syckernesse of the fulfyllynge.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. i. i. 7 To write þe said history with mare faith and sikkirnes.
1897 Shetland News 15 May (E.D.D.) Dis I sed we mair dan ordinar sikkerness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun]
sickerlaika1225
sickerness?c1225
sickerheadc1250
boldness1330
certaintya1340
traistc1340
assurancec1374
certain138.
sureness1419
surancea1450
affiancec1460
certitude?a1475
resting?a1475
security1535
firmancec1540
confidence1555
assuredness1561
resolution1590
plerophory1598
reliance1606
undoubtfulness1619
positiveness1711
positivity1741
decidedness1800
positivism1842
undoubtingness1857
inexpugnability1864
the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > self-confidence > [noun]
sickerness?c1225
assuredness1591
assurance1594
self-confidence1604
self-reliance1668
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 172 Sikernesse streoneð ȝemeles & ouer hoȝe. & ba..inobedience.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter ii. 11 Dred is wirkere of vertus, and sykirnes brynges necligence.
a1400 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. xi He myȝt so falle into rechelesnes & into fals sikernes.
1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (1610) 327 In their most weale, let men beware mishap, And not to sleepe in slumbring sickernesse.
3. † b. A means or source of security. Obsolete.
a. The state or condition of being secure; freedom from danger or harm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [noun] > safety or security
frithc893
sickernessc1230
orec1275
suretya1387
sickerty1405
surenessc1425
surance1426
security?a1475
warrandice1512
assurance1559
fastness1596
impunity1800
c1230 Hali Meid. 7 Se seli sikernesse as ha was in..under Godes warde.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 1158 Hou sal ani herthli flesche lende wit þe in sikernese.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxlv. 1 Till crist, þare is þi rest and þi sikirnes.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 26 In mene estaat eek sikernesse at all Ne saw I noon.
1464 Rolls of Parl. V. 563/2 Caleis stode in grete sikernesse.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Hiv A playne example of worldly vaynglory Howe in this worlde there is no sekenesse.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. xi. sig. Oo She..Drew herselfe aside in sickernesse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [noun] > safety or security > a means or source of
sickerness1483
securitya1586
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 76 b/2 Almesse is a grete sykernesse to fore the hye god unto all them that doo it.
?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter ciiii. 295 The rockes, all inaccesse, To Conies bee theyr sikernesse.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > [noun]
sickerness?c1225
caution1297
plevina1325
suretyc1330
assurec1374
sickerty1405
baila1593
assinat1652
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 253 & haue wil þet þu nult sunege namare. Þus neaskede he nan oðer sikernesse.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 129 Þe king him het þe panewes ȝelde oþur sikernesse him make.
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 623 ‘Do me sikernesse þer-to’ seis Ioseph þenne.
c1425 Eng. Conq. Irel. 8 Of this was good sekernes Imaked on ether half.
c1470 Dives & Pauper (1496) ii. ix. 118/2 A Jewe lente a crysten man a grete somme of golde..& toke no sykernesse of hym but his fayth.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > [noun]
safety?a1400
detentc1465
custodyc1503
straina1510
safeguard1528
violence?1535
safe custody1536
restrainta1547
detention?1570
retention1572
constraint1590
sickerness1678
deportation1909
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. 77 He shall abide in Sickerness (id est, in Prison) at the King's will.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.c1100