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assurance

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Etymology and origin of the French word assurance

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1164–1185 Gautier d'Arras More words from the 12th century
Ultimate origin
Latin sēcūrus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French assurer
French assurance
From the same root
French rassurer ← assurer
French réassurer ← assurer

Pronunciation

  • /a.sy.ʁɑ̃s/[1]

Forms

assurance f (plural assurances)[1] Old French asseurance, used until the 16th century.[2][3] Anglo-Norman spellings include aseurance, asseuraunce and assourance.[4]

Etymology

It is formed from French assurer + -ance.[2][5][1][3] The Old French form was asseurance, from asseurer.[2][3] The verb goes back to Vulgar Latin *assēcūrō (“to make safe”), from Latin sēcūrus (“safe, secure”).[6][7] Littré notes that Old French preferred the noun asseurement in the same senses.[8]

The verb's cognates include Italian assicurare and Spanish asegurar.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as asseurance in Gautier d'Arras, between about 1164 and 1185.[2][5] The first sense was a feeling of certainty or conviction, followed about 1200 by that of confidence and calm.[3] The Anglo-Norman texts from about 1200 use it for a guarantee, safety and confidence.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Old and Middle French the word named a guarantee of peace, a truce (from 1238 until the 16th century), and an oath of fidelity (1330).[3][9] The senses of certainty and calm are now archaic, but donner des assurances (17th century) survives, matching the sense of rassurer.[3] In 1539 it took the sense of self-confidence and ease of manner.[3][2]

The financial sense grew out of the verb's senses “make certain” and “provide guarantees of safety”: a contract by which a person is promised a fixed sum in return for a premium.[3] It is first recorded in shipping (1489); contracts against risk were mainly maritime in the 16th century.[3][6] Early in the 19th century insurance spread to other risks, giving compagnie d'assurances (1829) and, in the 20th century, assurances alone, with institutional phrases such as assurances sociales and assurance maladie (1909).[3] Assurance vie (1936 in Canada) followed earlier phrases such as assurance sur ma vie (1837), compare English life insurance.[3]

In mountaineering it is the technique of securing a climber with a rope;[10][11] Quemada's datings find it in 1934, earlier than the TLFi's 1970.[10][11]

Timeline

  • 1164–1185 – Asseurance appears in Gautier d'Arras.[2][5]
  • c. 1200 – It means confidence and peace of mind.[3]
  • 1238 – It names a truce or guarantee of peace.[3]
  • 1330 – It is used for an oath of fidelity.[3]
  • 1489 – First record of the sense “insurance”, in shipping.[3]
  • 1539 – The sense “self-confidence” appears; the spelling assurance is recorded.[3][2]
  • 1563 – Barbier dates the sense “insurance contract” to this year.[5]
  • 1829 – Compagnie d'assurances is recorded.[3]
  • 1909 – Assurance maladie is recorded.[3]
  • 1934 – First record of the mountaineering sense.[11]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Self-confidence, poise.[12][13][1]
  2. A formal promise or guarantee that something is true or will be done: Il a reçu l'assurance que le contrat serait signé.[12][13]
  3. In closing formulas of letters: veuillez agréer l'assurance de ma considération.[12][13][5]
  4. (dated) A feeling of certainty or security.[12][8]
  5. Insurance: a contract that guarantees compensation for a loss in return for a premium, also the insurance company or the insurance business.[1][3]
  6. (mountaineering) Securing a climber with a rope against a fall.[10]

Word family

  • assurance-vie

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  5. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 510a
  8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf
  10. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  11. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  12. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  13. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Assurance.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/assurance. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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