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Origin and history of secure

secure(adj.)

1530s, "without care or fear, dreading no evil" (a sense now archaic), from Latin securus, of persons, "free from care, quiet, easy," also in a bad sense, "careless, reckless;" of things, "tranquil; free from danger, safe," from *se cura, from se "free from" (see se-) + cura "care" (see cure (n.)).

In early use it often implied "over-confident, too sure." In English, in reference to places, "free from danger, unexposed," by c. 1600. The mechanical meaning "firmly fixed" (of material things) is by 1841, extended from the mental meaning "affording grounds for confidence" (1580s) hence "of such stability, strength, etc. to preclude risk." Of telephones or telephone lines, "not wiretapped," by 1961.

The earlier word, or form of the word, was Middle English siker, from Old English sicor, an earlier borrowing of the same Latin word, and sure (adj.) is a doublet, altered in its passage through Old French. Related: Securely.

also from 1530s

secure(v.)

c. 1600, "to make safe, guard from danger," from secure (adj.). Meaning "ensure, make certain, guarantee" is from 1650s; that of "seize and hold" (in reference to persons) is from 1640s; that of "make fast or firm" (of things) is from 1650s. The sense of "get possession of, make oneself master of" is from 1743. Related: Secured; securing.

also from c. 1600

Entries linking to secure

cure(n.1)

c. 1300, "care, heed," from Latin cura "care, concern, trouble," with many figurative extensions over time such as "study; administration; office of a parish priest; a mistress," and also "means of healing, successful remedial treatment of a disease" (late 14c.), from Old Latin coira-, a noun of unknown origin. Meaning "medical care" is late 14c.

sure(adj.)

mid-13c., seur, "safe against attack, secure, out of danger," later "reliable, fit or worthy to be depended upon" (c. 1300); "mentally certain, confident of one's positions" (mid-14c.); "firm, strong, resolute" (c. 1400). It is from Old French seur, sur "safe, secure; undoubted, dependable, trustworthy" (12c.), which is from Latin securus "free from care, untroubled, heedless, safe" (see secure (adj.)).

The pronunciation development is that of sugar (n.). The colloquial pronunciation "sho" is attested by 1871 in representations of U.S. Black speech (fo sho); compare mo.

As "certain to be or happen," 1560s. As an affirmative meaning "yes, certainly" it dates from 1803. This traces back to the Middle English meanings "firmly established; having no doubt," and to phrases such as to be sure (1650s), sure enough (1540s), and for sure (1580s).

To make sure "establish beyond doubt" is from 14c.; be sure "be certain, do not fail" (colloquial, be sure to click the links) is by 1590s. Figurative formulas of certainty beginning as sure as are attested from late 14c. (as fire is red); as sure as (one is) born is from 1640s.

The use as an adverb meaning "assuredly, certainly" is from early 14c. Sure thing "something beyond the possibility of failure, a certainty," is by 1836.