security English · revision 3526

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1432 (securite)|origins=la sēcūrus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /sɪˈkjʊə.rə.ti/, US /sɪˈkjʊr.ə.ti/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|securite]], [[bor|fro|securite]] and directly [[bor|la|sēcūritās|t=freedom from care, safety]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|sēcūrus|t=free from care, safe]], the source of [[secure]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024) It replaced the earlier [[m|enm|sikerte]], from an older borrowing of the same Latin word,^(Etymonline) and is a doublet of [[surety]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The state of being safe from danger: 1432–50^(OED 1989) or the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Freedom from care or anxiety”, now archaic, is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) or 1555 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and Etymonline notes that Middle English had earlier used ''sikerhede'' and ''sikernesse''.^(Etymonline) In law, something pledged as a guarantee of an obligation, first a guarantee of good behaviour, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline) Something that makes safe is from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) “Freedom from doubt, confidence” is from 1597.^(OED 1989) A document held by a creditor as proof of a right to payment is from the 1680s, hence ''securities'', stocks and bonds.^(Etymonline) The safety of a state or organization against espionage or attack is from 1941,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and by 1965 ''Security'' was shorthand for a state's security officials.^(Etymonline) A ''security blanket'', figuratively, is attested by 1966.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1432 – safety.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – a pledge or guarantee.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1555 – freedom from anxiety.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – something that makes safe.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1597 – confidence.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680s – a document of debt, hence ''securities''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1941 – the safety of a state.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1966 – ''security blanket''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Freedom from risk or danger; [[safety]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Freedom from doubt, anxiety or fear; confidence.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Measures taken to guard against attack, crime or [[espionage]]; the people responsible for them.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Something deposited as a guarantee of payment or of an obligation; a [[pledge]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(securities)'' A document showing ownership of stocks or bonds.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonsecurity]]

+ * [[maximum-security]]

+ * [[minimum-security]]

+ * [[securitize]]

+ * [[collective security]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[secure]]

+ * [[surety]]

+ * [[sure]]

+ * [[insecurity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}