assure

[uh-shoo r, uh-shur]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR assure ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), as·sured, as·sur·ing.

to declare earnestly to; inform or tell positively; state with confidence to: She assured us that everything would turn out all right.

to cause to know surely; reassure: He assured himself that no one was left on the bus.

to pledge or promise; give surety of; guarantee: He was assured a job in the spring.

to make (a future event) sure; ensure: This contract assures the company's profit this month.

to secure or confirm; render safe or stable: to assure a person's position.

to give confidence to; encourage.

Chiefly British. to insure, as against loss.

Origin of assure

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 formsas·sur·er, as·su·ror, nounin·ter·as·sure, verb (used with object), in·ter·as·sured, in·ter·as·sur·ing.pre·as·sure, verb (used with object), pre·as·sured, pre·as·sur·ing.un·as·sur·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for assure

Contemporary Examples of assure

Nobody can assure anybody and some of these authorities at the crematorium have very little background in science.
Rage Against the Ebola Crematorium
Abby Haglage
November 11, 2014
There will be an early vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, which enough Democrats support to assure passage.
Can Obama and a Republican Senate Find Common Ground?
Eleanor Clift
November 4, 2014
In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free—honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve.
Lincoln Was the Founders’ Heir Apparent
Harvey J. Kaye
October 22, 2014
I assure you there isn't a single local businessman who doesn't know the name Germán Goyeneche.
Trading Dime Bags for Salvador Dali
Jason McGahan
October 19, 2014
Having known a few presidents myself, I can assure you that there is little time to truly unwind, even on “vacation.”
Yes, Obama Was Right to Golf After Foley
Daniel G. Hill
August 30, 2014

Historical Examples of assure

Those Westerners perform quite in that manner, I assure you.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
He could assure them they felt highly flattered at the reception which had been accorded them.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest
Oh, ma'am—you're very polite—I feel it a great compliment, I assure you.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
Much against my liking, I assure you, said my brother, rudely interrupting her.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
But I know what your duties will be, and I assure you, my dear Hester, you will find the thing cannot be done.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for assure

assure

verb (tr; may take a clause as object)

to cause to feel sure or certain; convinceto assure a person of one's love

to promise; guaranteehe assured us that he would come

to state positively or with assurance

to make (an event) certain; ensure

mainly British to insure against loss, esp of life

property law another word for convey

Derived Formsassurable, adjectiveassurer, noun

Word Origin for assure

C14: from Old French aseürer to assure, from Medieval Latin assēcūrāre to secure or make sure, from sēcūrus secure

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

Word Origin and History for assure

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.