ʃuə adj. & adv. --adj. 1 having or seeming to
have adequate reason for a
belief or
assertion. 2 (often foll. by
of, or
that + clause) convinced. 3 (foll. by of) having a
certain prospect or
confident anticipation or
satisfactory knowledge of. 4
reliable or
unfailing (there is
one sure
way to
find out). 5 (foll. by to + infin.) certain. 6 undoubtedly
true or
truthful. --adv. colloq.
certainly. øas sure as eggs is eggs see
EGG(1). as sure as
fate quite certain. be sure (in imper. or infin.; foll. by that +
clause or to + infin.)
take care to;
not fail to (be sure to
turn the lights out). for sure colloq.
without doubt.
make sure 1 make or
become certain;
ensure. 2 (foll. by of)
establish the
truth or ensure the
existence or
happening of. sure
enough colloq. 1 in
fact; certainly. 2
with near certainty (they will
come sure enough). sure-fire colloq. certain to
succeed. sure-footed
never stumbling or
making a
mistake. sure-footedly in a sure-footed way. sure-footedness
being sure-footed. sure
thing int.
esp. US colloq. certainly. to be sure 1 it is
undeniable or admitted. 2 it must be admitted. øøsureness n. [ME f. OF sur sure (earlier sêur) f. L securus SECURE]