| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
assure (əˈʃʊə) ![]() | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to cause to feel sure or certain; convince: to assure a person of one's love |
| 2. | to promise; guarantee: he assured us that he would come |
| 3. | to state positively or with assurance |
| 4. | to make (an event) certain; ensure |
| 5. | chiefly (Brit) to insure against loss, esp of life |
| 6. | property law another word for convey |
| [C14: from Old French aseürer to assure, from Medieval Latin assēcūrāre to secure or make sure, from sēcūrus | |
| as'surable | |
| —adj | |
| as'surer | |
| —n | |