insure

insure
\ \ [15] Insure and ensure [14] are ultimately the same word. And their common ancestor started out, in fact, as a variant of assure [14].
\ \ This came via Old French asseurer from Vulgar Latin *assēcūrāre, a compound verb formed from the Latin prefix ad- ‘to’ and the adjective sēcūrussafe’ (source of English secure and sure). Anglo-Norman had a variant form, enseurer, which produced English ensure. From fairly early on this had been alternatively spelled insure (using the Latinate prefix in-), but it was not until the 17th century that this version became established in the sense ‘provide cover against loss, damage, etc’ (for which previously the more usual term had actually been assure).
\ \ Cf.ASSURE, ENSURE, SECURE, SURE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • insure — in‧sure [ɪnˈʆʊə ǁ ˈʆʊr] verb [intransitive, transitive] INSURANCE 1. to buy insurance to protect yourself, your family, your business etc against something bad happening, for example accidents, damage to property, or injury caused to others: •… …   Financial and business terms

  • insure — in·sure /in shu̇r/ vb in·sured, in·sur·ing vt: to assure against a loss by a contingent event on certain stipulated conditions or at a given rate of premium: give, take, or procure insurance on or for vi: to contract to give insurance:… …   Law dictionary

  • Insure — In sure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Insured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Insuring}.] [OE. ensuren, prob. for assuren, by a change of prefix. See 1st {In }, and {Sure}, and cf. {Assure}, {Ensure}.] [Written also {ensure}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To make sure or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • insure — ► VERB 1) arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of (property, life, or a person), in exchange for regular payments to a company. 2) secure the payment of (a sum) in this way. 3) (insure against) protect (someone) against (a… …   English terms dictionary

  • Insure — In*sure , v. i. To underwrite; to make insurance; as, a company insures at three per cent. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Insure — can mean: * To provide for financial or other mitigation if something goes wrong: see insurance or . * Or you may be looking for ensure or inshore …   Wikipedia

  • insure — (v.) mid 15c., insuren, spelling variant of ensuren (see ENSURE (Cf. ensure)). Took on its particular sense of make safe against loss by payment of premiums from mid 17c. (replacing assure in that meaning). Related: Insured; insuring …   Etymology dictionary

  • insure — *ensure, assure, secure Analogous words: protect, shield, guard, safeguard (see DEFEND): indemnify, compensate (see PAY vb) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • insure — [v] protect, secure assure, cinch, cover, guarantee, guard, hedge, indemnify, register, safeguard, shield, underwrite, warrant;   concepts 317,330 …   New thesaurus

  • insure — [in shoor′] vt. insured, insuring [ME ensuren: see ENSURE] 1. to contract to be paid or to pay money in the case of loss of (life, property, etc.); take out or issue insurance on (something or someone) 2. ENSURE vi. to give or take out insurance… …   English World dictionary

  • insure — verb 1 (I, T) to buy insurance to protect yourself against something bad happening to you, your family, your possessions etc: Have you insured the contents of your home? | insure (sth/sb) against sth: It would be wise to insure your property… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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