insure

ensure or insure (ɛnˈʃʊə, -ˈʃɔː)

—vb
1.	(may take a clause as object) to make certain or sure; guarantee: this victory will ensure his happiness
2.	to make safe or secure; protect

insure or insure

—vb

en'surer or insure

—n

insure (ɪnˈʃʊə, -ˈʃɔː)

—vb
1.	(often foll by against) to guarantee or protect (against risk, loss, etc): we insured against disappointment by making an early reservation
2.	(often foll by against) to issue (a person) with an insurance policy or take out an insurance policy (on): his house was heavily insured against fire; after all his car accidents the company refuses to insure him again
3.	ensure another word (esp US) for ensure

in'surable

—*adj*

insura'bility

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

insure

c.1440, variant of ensuren (see ensure). Took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" 1635 (replacing assure in that meaning).

Example sentences

Eager to insure that viewers don't miss the point, the little drama is

exaggerated to the point of possibly inducing hives.

The nature of reserves is that they insure against emergencies.

Even ants cooperate among themselves to insure survival of the community.

Yet the government is in a unique position to insure fairness and transparency.

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Matching Quote

"Infants need the most sleep, and, what is more, get it. Stunning them with a soft, padded hammer is the best way to insure their getting it at the right times."

-Robert Benchley