Obs. Also 4 surrawns, 5 suraunce, -awnce, surans(e, seuerans, sewrawnce, -aunce, 6 sorance. [a. OF. surance, f. sur SURE a., after ASSURANCE, of which it may be sometimes merely an aphetic form. Cf. SOVERANCE.]
1. A pledge, guarantee; = ASSURANCE 1.
c. 1300. Beket, 1910. Ich wole assoilli hem in thisse forme, fawe, That hi do surance forto stonde to holi churche lawe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10238. He said þat his suranse sothely was fals, And done for dissait.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 4553. Suraunce & oþe of old made to þe toun.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 2212. He mad hem to swere, vppon here Sewraunce, to-forn him there, that be ony weye they scholden me sle.
1532. Tindale, Expos. Matt. v–vii. vi. 68 b. To geve vs yet more sensible and surer sacramentes and suraunces of his goodnes.
a. 1557. Diurn. Occurr. (Bannatyne Cl.), 40. The laird of Langtoun tane in surance for suffering of the Inglismen.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. ii. 46. Now giue some surance that thou art Reuenge.
2. The insuring of property, etc.; = ASSURANCE 5, INSURANCE 4.
1547. Insurance Policy, in R. G. Marsden, Sel. Pleas Crt. Admir. (1897), II. 48. In full payment of this sorance a bove sayd. c. 1550 Ibid., The beste made … byll of surance.
3. Security, safety; = ASSURANCE 7.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 23359. And where the gate is kept well,… that vycis may ha none entrie, that place stant in suerte,… and ther is suraunce & eke trust.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., XC. xv. (MS. Arch. Seld. B. 10), lf. 70. Thus wedde he hir at yorke in al suraunce.
a. 1475. Ashby, Active Policy, 549. Gentilmen shuld nat yeve clothyng But to their howshold meyne, for surance That no man be their power excedyng.
1559. Mirr. Mag., K. James Murdered, xv. He counsayled me for surance of my state.
1603. J. Davies, Microcosmos, 155. Put into his hand the awfull Sword Of Iustice; so, the good shall bee assur’d,… Sith Iustice goodmens surance doth inlarge.
4. Certitude, confidence; = ASSURANCE 8.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, xv. 80. Of that Surawnce Am I.
