insure

Recorded since about 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from en- (“make”) + 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/, /ɪnˈʃɝ/

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• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ), -ʊə(ɹ), -ɜː(ɹ)

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, dated) 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.

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Sir Robert Walpole and House”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 237:

     "I have a friend at court," whispered she to her companion: "last night I singled out one of Sir Robert's secretaries, and a few smiles made him my devoted chevalier, and he promised to insure an interview."

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

     […] 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.

   • 1954, Packard Motor Car Company, Packard Clipper Owner's Manual:

     The latest in automation equipment, combined with highly skilled craftsmen, insure the high quality of the Packard Clipper.

• (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
• self-insure

• insurant
• assure
• ensure

• inshore

• Ursine, inures, nursie, rusine, urines, ursine