Added 9 October 2026
insure
/ɪnˈʃɔː(ɹ)/ verb
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about insure at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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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.
- To deal in such contracts; subscribe to a policy of insurance
- Alternative spelling of ensure; to make sure or certain of; guarantee.
Origin
First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from Old French en- + 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. Doublet of ensure.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)