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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Sikernes, Sekernes, n. Also: sykernes, sikkernes(s, -nesse, sikirnes(s, -nesse, sik(k)yrnes, sykkernes, sikir-, syk(k)irnas(e, sikkyrnace, sickernas, sicernes, sickernes(s, -nesse, sickerines, sickarnes, sickernis, sickirnes, sickyrnes, sykarness, sekernesse, sek(k)irnes, sekyrnes(s, sekyernesse, secarnes, sekyrtnese, sekyrnas. [ME sikernesse (Ancr. R.), sykirnes (Rolle), late ME sekernes (c1425), syckernesse (c1450), sekyrnes (c1460), e.m.E. sickernesse (1587), OE sicornysse.] = Securit(i)e n. in various senses.

1. The condition of being safe; freedom from danger or harm; safety.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1705.
Thinkand thaim in full sikernes [L. securitate] 1523 St. P. Henry VIII IV 57.
For the weile of this realme and sickyrnes of our soverane lordis maist noble personne 1531 Bell. Boece I 157.
The Romanis … seing na sickirnes to abide in Angus 1540 Lynd. Sat. 91.
Nor ȝit conserue my lyfe in sickernes 1567 Sat. P. iv 171.
Sicernes(b) 1375 Barb. iii 665.
Angus … for mar sekyrnes, gaiff him syne Hys castell 1456 Hay I 115/21.
To mak castell, or fortress for sekernes, or seurtee of men or contree c1475 Wall. v 347.
To weit Quhar he suld sleipe in sekyrnes to be

b. concr. Means of assuring safety or deflecting possible harm; ? defensive armour. ?1438 Alex. ii 346.
Methink it tyme to tak our harnes, Speiris, swordis and all the sikkernes

c. Sense of security; feeling of safety. a1400 Leg. S. ii 870.
Habundance of pece but strif, Sikirnes but dut or dred a1500 Henr. Fab. 380 (Bann.).
The suetest lyfe thairfoir in this cuntre Is of sickernes with small possessioun

2. The condition of being stable and more or less permanent.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1282 (D).
Ȝit in micht Remanand [sic] had the towne of Troy In sikkernes [L. firmitate] and in gret joye 1507–8 Acta Conc. MS XIX 120.
This warldis brukilnes That changis ay and hes no sikkernes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 387.
Tiddious restles besynes Bot ony maner of sickarnes a1568 Bann. MS 69b/8. 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl 46.
Sen that the case is sa, That warldly strenth can haue na sickernes a1585 Maitl. Q. 225/50.
This plesant plant … Stuid on ane ruit of semelie sickernes a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 159.
[The Conclusion] importeth its sickernesse: it is hid, it cannot but be sure to the overcomer(b) 15.. Dunb. App. vii 17.
Sen in this warld thare is no sekernes

b. Certain prospect, assurance, certainty of or to do something. a1400 Leg. S. vi 165.
Virginite ve ma call … sikirnes of the joy that ay Lestis 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 151.
He durst nocht assailȝe the thing with manhede and curage … howbeit sindry vtheris offeris thame to maist terribill ieopardeis, knawing na sikkirnes to succede thereftir

c. Assurance as to one's accuracy or the quality of one's literary performance. 1533 Bell. Livy I 7/6.
To write the said history with mare faith and sikkirnes [L. certius adlaturos se] or ellis [etc.]

3. Assurance or confirmation that the terms of a contract, treaty or the like will be honoured; also, assurance of property to a recipient.(1) 1400 Maxwell Mem. I 142.
To the mare sykernes of thir thyngis, … aither of the parteis, the haly wangel twechit, bodyly has gyffyn ath 1405 Lennox Mun. 58.
The forsaidis … sal ger thair wyffis be oblist and sworn to the fulfilling and sikirnase of al thir forsaid conandis 1409 Exch. R. IV ccxii.
For the mare sikkirnes and traistful keping of … the forsaide thingis c1420 Wynt. vii 121.
And to the mare sykkyrnes … Thaire eldast barnys, and thare ayris … For ostage gret he tuk 1425 Montgomery Mem. II 9.
Sekyrnas 1432 Glassarie Writs in Highland P. II 167.
Sykarnes 14.. Quon. Attach. c. 38.
He salbe condampnit in the harmes a pon him taxt be his perseuar vnder sikernes of borowys to pay at lauchfull tym 1452 Ayr B. Ct. 10 April.
& for the mar sikernes the said Samuel resignit in the handis of the said bailȝe that day the tenement of qwhilum Dowgal Adoynule 1463–4 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V i p. 483 (20 March).
For the mar sickernes of the keping & fulfilling of the forsaide appoyntment 1465–6 Misc. Spald. C. II 251.
Sickernas 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 172.
Sykyrnes 1481 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 331.
Sykkirnas 1514 Facs. Nat. MSS III xi.
And for the mair verificatioun and sikernes we the fornemmit domismen has procurit … the selis of venerabill and discreit men 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 115.
My lord Borthuik wilbe no ways content without sickirnes be your grace hand writ and seill 1548 Boyd Fam. P. No. 26 (6 Aug.).
Ane sufficient rycht and titill … for sikirnes of the heretage of the nyne merkis land of Schellachwrek 1551 Boyd Fam. P. No. 36 (29 July).
And to mak sickernis of the heretage thairof to the sad Adam 1551 Boyd Fam. P. No. 36 (29 July).
For sickerines of the heretage 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 84.
And that this oure epistill … ma mak the mair faytht and sikkernes of strenth(b) 1375 Barb. iv 178.
Quhen this cunnand thus tretit wes, And affermit with sekirnes 1375 Barb. xx 150. 1386 Rot. Sc. II 85/2.
To the mare sekernesse of thir trewes the lord Nevill has granted his protection to the enhabitants [of] al Tevydale 1398 Liber Melros 490.
And to the mare euidentez and sekirnes I hafe purchacide … the seales of the … Dryburgh abbotis to be set to with myne c1400 Troy-bk. ii 317.
In to thar assignacioune Of sekyrnes [L. firmitate] thane of the pees 1412 Buccleuch Mun. II 22.
That for the mare sekernes this oure confirmacioune be … selit with oure grete sele 1443 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 269.
Sekyrnes 1454 Glasgow Chart. I ii 44.
And for the mar sekyrnes at all thir thyngis befor wretyn sall be completyt fulfyllyt and done 1457 Peebles B. Rec. I 124.
Secarnes 1469 Oliphants 15.
Sekyernesse 1476 Oliphants 20.
And for the mair sekyrtnese I haff subscriwit this writ with my hawn hande 1534–5 Rec. Earld. Orkney 219.(2) 1438–9 Rec. Earld. Orkney 72.
And to the mare sikkirnesse off the saide lande to the saide Thomas, the saide Johne hanselde the saide Thomas, off the fornemmit land for the forsaide golde

b. Security for the payment of a debt or fulfilling of a contract; an instance of this, a bond, pledge, guarantee.(a) 14.. Reg. Maj.c. 28.
Quhil that he fynde gude sikernes that ilk concorde to kep & obserwe hal & vel & fra thin furth vnvemmyt 1498 Acta Conc. II 170.
Gif the sikkyrnes that the said James has of the landis of Wester Balleuny be nocht sufficient 1498 Acta Conc. II 283. 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 389. c1500 Barounis Lawis 7
The borrowis of him that is condempnit aw to be sickirnes to the party of his recouer and to the court 1585 Misc. Spald. C. II 345.
Sufficient cawtioun or wther sikkerness as … can be dewysit(b) 1456 Hay I 245/27.
That for the seurtee of a manis persone thare can na man devis sufficiand plegis na sekirnes 1498 Acta Conc. II 189.
For the sekkirnes of the sade annuale 1551 Corr. M. Lorraine 350.
He schew me ye had providit me sekirnes of viij^c frankis mair

c. In sickirnes of, as a means of assuring or guaranteeing (one's continuing enjoyment of) a right or privilege. 1485 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 32.
In warandeis and sickirnes of the landis of [etc.] a1538 Abell 44a.
Theodorik marit the King of Francis dochtir in sickirnes of his ring

4. Secure keeping or custody. a1400 Leg. S. xxxv 58.
A chawmir … Quare-in al hyre tresoure wes For priuete & sekyrnes 1418–19 Liber Melros II 502.
The qwhilkes indentours the forsaid Nychole has delyverit till the sayd abbot and convent in speciele sykkernes and possessioun c1420 Wynt. v 2713.
The sarjandys … tuk wp barnys here and thare … and put thame in gret sykyrnes c1420 Wynt. ix 2568.
Tyl hald thaim in mare sikkyrnace Than nerehand a se beside 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i ix § 10 (1678) 77.
He shall abide in sickerness (id est, in prison) at the king's will

5. Unswerving firmness of purpose; steadfastness, constancy.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 704.
George … in quham of Godis grace Of treutht sik sikirnes in was That [etc.] 1456 Hay II 48/12.
The sadill that he [sc. a knight] rydis in betakenis sekernes, that he be nocht lychtly put by his purpose a1500 Henr. III 103/33.
Hir schone suld be of sickernes, In syne that scho nocht slyd(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 307.
For to hold sekyrnes [L. pro pace firmata tenenda] c1420 Wynt. viii 1907.
All thir in gret sykkyrnes Till Robert the Brows bwndyn wes