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Webster 1913 Edition

Insure

In′sure

,
Verb.
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
.]
1.
To make sure or secure;
as, to
insure
safety to any one
.
2.
Specifically, to secure against a loss by a contingent event, on certain stipulated conditions, or at a given rate or premium; to give or to take an insurance on or for;
as, a merchant
insures
his ship or its cargo, or both, against the dangers of the sea; goods and buildings are
insured
against fire or water; persons are
insured
against sickness, accident, or death; and sometimes hazardous debts are
insured
.

In-sure′

,
Verb.
I.
To underwrite; to make insurance;
as, a company
insures
at three per cent
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Insure

INSU'RE

,
Verb.
T.
inshu're. [in and sure.] To make sure or secure; to
contract or covenant for a consideration to secure a person against loss; or to engage to indemnify another for the loss of any specified property, at a certain stipulated rate per cent, called a premium. The property usually insured is such as is exposed to extraordinary hazard. Thus the merchant insures his ship or its cargo, or both, against the dangers of the sea; houses are insured against fire; sometimes hazardous debts ar insured, and sometimes lives.

INSU'RE

,
Verb.
I.
To underwrite; to practice making insurance. This company insures at 3 per cent, or at a low premium.

Definition 2024

insure

insure

English

Verb

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) Alternative spelling of ensure: (transitive) 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.

Usage notes

  • (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.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

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