assure

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈʃʊɹ/, /əˈʃɝ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English assuren, borrowed from Old French aseürer (“to reassure, render sure”), asseurer (modern French assurer),^[2][3][4] from Vulgar Latin *assēcūrāre, from Latin ad-, to, and sēcūrus, safe (see secure).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To reassure or give confidence to, to make safe, and to pledge: about 1375, in Chaucer's Anelida and Arcite, in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

To betroth (1393) and to make sure the possession of property (1572) are obsolete senses.^[6] To make safe against risks, to insure, is from about 1385,^[6] now especially of life insurance in Britain.^[6][7] To render safe or secure from attack is from 1413,^[6] and to make an event certain, to ensure, from 1622.^[6] Assurance is from about 1385, in Chaucer.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1375 – to reassure.^[2]
• c. 1385 – to insure.^[6]
• 1393 – to betroth.^[6]
• 1413 – to make safe.^[6]
• 1622 – to ensure.^[6]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To tell positively so as to remove doubt.
2. To make someone feel sure; to convince or reassure.
3. To make certain; to ensure.
4. (chiefly British) To insure, especially a life.

Word family

• assurable
• assurer

Related words

• assurance
• reassure
• sure
• secure
• insure
• ensure

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins