1. [adv]  definitely or positively; "the results are surely encouraging"; "she certainly is a hard worker"; "it's going to be a good day for sure"; "they are coming, for certain"; "they thought he had been killed sure enough"; "he'll win sure as shooting"; (`sure' is used informally for `surely' as in"they sure smell good"; "sure he'll come")
2. [adj]  exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance; "be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"; "be sure to lock the doors"
3. [adj]  impossible to doubt or dispute; "indisputable (or sure) proof"
4. [adj]  having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured; "felt certain of success"; "was sure (or certain) she had seen it"; "was very sure in his beliefs"; "sure of her friends"
5. [adj]  certain to occur; destined or inevitable; "he was certain to fail"; "his fate is certain"; "In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Franklin; "he faced certain death"; "sudden but sure regret"; "he is sure to win"
6. [adj]  capable of being depended on; "a quick and certain remedy"; "a sure way to distinguish the two"; "wood dust is a sure sign of termites"
7. [adj]  physically secure or dependable; "a sure footing"; "was on sure ground"
8. [adj]  certain not to fail; "a sure hand on the throttle"
9. [adj]  infallible or unfailing; "a sure (or true) sign of one's commitment"
10. [adj]  (of persons) worthy of trust or confidence; "a sure (or trusted) friend"

1. \Sure\, a. [Compar. {Surer}; superl. {Surest}.] [OE. sur,
   OF. se["u]r, F. s[^u]r, L. securus; se aside, without + cura
   care. See {Secure}, and cf. {Assure}, {Insure}, {Sicker}
   sure.]
   1. Certainly knowing and believing; confident beyond doubt;
      implicity trusting; unquestioning; positive.
            We are sure that the judgment of God is according to
            truth against them which commit such things. --Rom.
                                                  ii. 2.
            I'm sure care 's an enemy of life.    --Shak.
   2. Certain to find or retain; as, to be sure of game; to be
      sure of success; to be sure of life or health.
   3. Fit or worthy to be depended on; certain not to fail or
      disappoint expectation; unfailing; strong; permanent;
      enduring. ``His sure word.'' --Keble.
            The Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house;
            because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord.
                                                  --1 Sam. xxv.
                                                  28.
            The testimony of the Lord is sure.    --Ps. xix. 7.
            Which put in good sure leather sacks. --Chapman.
   4. Betrothed; engaged to marry. [Obs.]
            The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her
            husband before God.                   --Sir T. More.
            I presume . . . that you had been sure as fast as
            faith could bind you, man and wife.   --Brome.
   5. Free from danger; safe; secure.
            Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; If we
            recover that we are sure enough.      --Shak.
   {To be sure}, or {Be sure}, certainly; without doubt; as,
      Shall you do? To be sure I shall.
   {To make sure}.
      (a) To make certain; to secure so that there can be no
          failure of the purpose or object. ``Make Cato sure.''
          --Addison. ``A peace can not fail, provided we make
          sure of Spain.'' --Sir W. Temple.
      (b) To betroth. [Obs.]
                She that's made sure to him she loves not well.
                                                  --Cotgrave.
   Syn: Certain; unfailing; infallible; safe; firm; permanent;
        steady; stable; strong; secure; indisputable; confident;
        positive.
   

2. \Sure\, adv.
   In a sure manner; safely; certainly. ``Great, sure, shall be
   thy meed.'' --Spenser.
         'T is pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print.
                                                  --Byron.
   

["Towards a Broader Basis for Logic Programming", Bharat Jayaraman, TR CS Dept, SUNY Buffalo, 1990].