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assure

[uh-shoo r, uh-shur] /əˈʃʊər, əˈʃɜr/
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verb (used with object), assured, assuring.
1.
to declare earnestly to; inform or tell positively; state with confidence to:
She assured us that everything would turn out all right.
2.
to cause to know surely; reassure:
He assured himself that no one was left on the bus.
3.
to pledge or promise; give surety of; guarantee:
He was assured a job in the spring.
4.
to make (a future event) sure; ensure:
This contract assures the company's profit this month.
5.
to secure or confirm; render safe or stable:
to assure a person's position.
6.
to give confidence to; encourage.
7.
Chiefly British. to insure, as against loss.
Origin of assure
Middle English
Old French
Late Latin
1325-1375
1325-75; Middle English as(e)uren, assuren < Old French aseurer < Late Latin assēcūrāre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + sēcūr- (see secure) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix
Related forms
assurer, assuror, noun
interassure, verb (used with object), interassured, interassuring.
preassure, verb (used with object), preassured, preassuring.
unassuring, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.
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Examples from the Web for assure
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples

  • I was away when this was done, and I wish to assure you most earnestly that I had nothing to do with it.

    The Associate Hermits Frank R. Stockton

  • But I assure you it will do not the least good in the world.

    A Prisoner of Morro Upton Sinclair

  • Let me assure you that he is not mistaken when he declares that there is no time to lose.

    Aladdin of London Sir Max Pemberton

  • I assure you I have much more to conquer in myself, with regard to them.

    Deerbrook Harriet Martineau

  • You may count upon me at any time, I assure you; do not spare me.

    The conquest of Rome Matilde Serao
British Dictionary definitions for assure

assure

/əˈʃʊə/
verb (transitive; may take a clause as object)
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.
(mainly Brit) to insure against loss, esp of life
6.
(property law) another word for convey
Derived Forms
assurable, adjective
assurer, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French aseürer to assure, from Medieval Latin assēcūrāre to secure or make sure, from sēcūrussecure
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for assure
v.

late 14c., from Old French asseurer (12c., Modern French assurer) "to reassure, calm, protect, to render sure," from Vulgar Latin *assecurar, from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + securus "safe, secure" (see secure (adj.)). Related: Assured; assuring.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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