(a) Free from danger, not at risk, in safety, safe; ~ and sauf; ~ o, safe from (sb.); ~ of, safe from (sb. or sth.); also, safe on account of (the king's seal); maken ~, to make (sth.) safe; also, protect (sb.) from punishment; maken us ~ of, put (sb.) in our power, secure (sb.) for us; (b) of an action or a course of action: undertaken in safety, not attended by risk; (c) spiritually safe; in the way of salvation; free from sin; also, among the elect, saved; also, conducive to spiritual safety, not dangerous to the soul, prudent; (d) of a place, stronghold, ship: difficult to attack, secure against attack, destruction, etc.; also fig.; also, private; of a path: safe for travelers; also fig.; ~ kepinge, safekeeping; ~ wede, armor; maken ~, to secure (a tomb) against intruders; (e) ben ~ of, to get rid of (sb.), kill; also, feel safe from (sb.), have no fear of (sb.); ben ~ for sight of, have no fear of ever seeing (sb.); (f) incapable of causing harm, harmless; of prisoners: strongly guarded; of a tumor, benign.

(a) Strong, firm, sound, stable; well made, held fast; also fig.; ~ as ston, firm as a rock; maken ~, to make (a marriage bond) fast; (b) strong in arms, stout, doughty; also, fig. strong against temptation; also, as coll. noun: strong people [quot.: a1382]; ~ and sound; (c) accurate, unerring; steady; also, expert; ~ eie, a steady eye.

(a) Genuine, true; durable, lasting; ~ desert, a veritable desert; (b) trustworthy, trusty, faithful, reliable; of an explanation: credible; of a guarantee: dependable; the sikereste of servauntes, the most reliable servants; (c) good for a purpose, beneficial; effective, thorough; maken ~ werk, to perform a task thoroughly; (d) healthy, whole, uninjured.

Of persons: having complete certainty, fully assured, guaranteed: (a) by law, experience, the course of nature, etc.; certain (to do sth., that sth. is so); ~ of, bound to experience (sth.), bound to obtain (sb. or sth.); also, in assured possession of (sth.); ben ~ of, to have a binding agreement with (sb.); (b) by divine decree or promise; certain (to obtain sth., that sth. is so); ~ of, certain to experience (sth.), certain to obtain (sb.); also, in assured possession of (sth.); also, certain on account of (sth.).

Of things, statements, events, etc.: (a) certain, guaranteed by experience, law, nature, etc.; also, regular; sure (to effect sth.); ~ soth; ~ thing, a sure thing, something completed, something achieved; maken ~, to swear to (sth.); also, confirm (sth.), ratify; (b) certain, fixed, definite, guaranteed by divine decree or promise; ~ as the crede; ~ soth; (c) as noun: a sure relationship [1st quot.]; for ~, definitely; in (o) ~, certainly, surely, indeed.

(a) Certain in mind, having certitude, convinced; certain (of sth., that sth. is so); ben ~ of, to have complete trust in (sb.); maken ~, assure (sb. that sth. is so); promise (sb. to do sth.); also, give (sb.) assurance; (b) full of confidence, confident; hopeful; bold; also, overconfident, presumptuous; ~ of, confident about (sth.), unworried about; also, confident on account of (sb.); (c) in mild asseverations: ~ thou (ye) be, be thou (ye) ~, be ~; for ~ soth.

In surname.