insure

Recorded since about 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from en- "make" + Old French seür "sure", probably influenced by Old French asseürer "to assure"); took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" in 1635, replacing assure.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈʃʊə/, /ɪnˈʃɔː/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈʃʊɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(r), -ʊə(r)
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ) (in some dialects)

insure (third-person singular simple present insures, present participle insuring, simple past and past participle insured)

1. (transitive) To provide for compensation if some specified risk occurs. Often agreed by policy (contract) to offer financial compensation in case of an accident, theft or other undesirable event.

   I'm not insured against burglary.

2. (intransitive) To deal in such contracts; subscribe to a policy of insurance
3. (chiefly US, transitive) Alternative spelling of ensure; to make sure or certain of; guarantee.
   • 1787, Preamble to the United States Constitution,

     We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

   • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, London: Constable & Co., Chapter 19,

     […] the sentry placed over the prisoner had strict orders to let no one have communication with him but the Chaplain. And certain unobtrusive measures were taken absolutely to insure this point.

• (provide for compensation): Note that both the person taking out insurance and the company with whom the policy is taken are said to insure the risk.

• insurance
• insurer
• reinsure

• insurant
• assure
• ensure

• inshore

• inures, nursie, rusine, urines, ursine