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[*]Freedom from risk or danger; safety.
[*]Freedom from doubt, anxiety, or fear; confidence.
[*]Something that gives or assures safety, as:
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[*]A group or department of private guards: Call building security if a visitor acts suspicious.
[*]Measures adopted by a government to prevent espionage, sabotage, or attack.
[*]Measures adopted, as by a business or homeowner, to prevent a crime such as burglary or assault: Security was lax at the firm’s smaller plant.
[*]Measures adopted to prevent escape: Security in the prison is very tight.
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[*]Something deposited or given as assurance of the fulfillment of an obligation; a pledge.
[*]One who undertakes to fulfill the obligation of another; a surety.
[*]A document indicating ownership or creditorship; a stock certificate or bond.
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Etymology: from Latin securus free from care, from se-without + cura care.

The word is related to sure, ensure, insurance, reassure. Also related in meaning to safe (affording security or protection from harm), although this word derives from Latin salvus.

There are plenty of ‘security agencies’ around, but do you feel secure?

[quote author=uncronopio link=board=wordsuggest;num=1064311478;start=0#0 date=09/23/03 at 06:04:38][center]...[/center]There are plenty of ‘security agencies’ around, but do you feel secure?

No, not in the least—«Quis custodiet ipsos custodes ?»—Who will guard [us from] these guardians ? Coincidentally, I just received an epost from Le Monde diplomatique announcing the latest issue of their periodical, Manière de voir, which takes up this very question. For those of you who have access to French bookstores or who might be tempted to order the journal via the internet, here’s a link....
Henri

There are a lot of things done to give the feeling of security. They don’t necessarily make you safer or reduce your risk, but who knows?

If you put up a sign that says you have a monitored alarm system are you safer? If you actually put in the monitoring system are you safer? If you put in the sign and the alarm are you safer?

Does knowing we’re at threat level yellow or orange make you safer? Do you know what to do at level orange that you don’t have to do at level yellow?

Taking action often gives the sense of security, even though the action taken may not provide any real security.

DJ

secure - c.1533, from L. securus "without care, safe," from *se cura, from se "free from" + cura "care." The verb is from 1593. Meaning "firmly fixed" (of material things) is from 1841. Security is attested from early 15c., from L. securitas, from securus. Phrase security blanket in figurative sense is from 1971.

Interesting point, uncronopio… Security agencies seem to proliferate proportionately with the level of anxiety…

Are they trying to quell our concerns?  The measurement of the success of their endeavors—the meaningfulness of their task—is directly related to one’s affiliation with the power structure that employs them.

-Tim

Are they trying to quell our concerns?  

Or profit from them?

DJ

Societies are certainly devoting much more resources to support "security", both by governments (higher military budgets, airport security systems, etc) and the private sector (private security guards, computing security systems, alarms). The "security industry" seems to be doing very well, obtaining and increasing share of society’s expenditure. Even blue sky research funding priorities are now related to security: it is one of the four streams of funding by the Australian Research Council (ARC).

Despite of this, most surveys show that people do not feel secure at all. I have a deep mistrust towards government agencies asking us to give up some essential liberties so they can provide us with "more security".

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

(Attributed to Benjamin Franklin)

Henri