A person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, especially debt payment. Also refers to certainty or security in general.
From Old French 'seurte' via Latin 'securitas' meaning 'freedom from care'. The legal meaning of guarantor developed in medieval commerce when trade required trusted intermediaries.
In medieval times, becoming someone's surety was literally putting your own freedom on the line - you could end up in debtor's prison if they defaulted. This ancient system of human collateral still underlies modern bail bonds and loan guarantees.
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