assure English · revision 10253

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=fro aseürer|origins=la securus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈʃʊɹ/, /əˈʃɝ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English assuren, [[bor|fro|aseürer|t=to reassure, render sure]], asseurer (modern French assurer),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin *assēcūrāre, from Latin ad-, to, and sēcūrus, safe (see [[secure]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==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.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To betroth (1393) and to make sure the possession of property (1572) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989) To make safe against risks, to insure, is from about 1385,^(OED 1989) now especially of life insurance in Britain.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) To render safe or secure from attack is from 1413,^(OED 1989) and to make an event certain, to ensure, from 1622.^(OED 1989) ''Assurance'' is from about 1385, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – to reassure.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – to insure.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – to betroth.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1413 – to make safe.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – to ensure.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To tell positively so as to remove doubt.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make someone feel sure; to [[convince]] or [[reassure]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make certain; to [[ensure]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' To insure, especially a life.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[assurable]]

+ * [[assurer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[assurance]]

+ * [[reassure]]

+ * [[sure]]

+ * [[secure]]

+ * [[insure]]

+ * [[ensure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}