insure

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: in=sure

CIDE DICTIONARY

insure, v. t. [OE. ensuren, prob. for assuren, by a change of prefix. See 1st In-, and Sure, and cf. Assure, Ensure.].

•  To make sure or secure; as, to insure safety to any one.  [1913 Webster]
•  Specifically, to secure against a loss by a contingent event, on certain stipulated conditions, or at a given rate or premium; to give or to take an insurance on or for; as, a merchant insures his ship or its cargo, or both, against the dangers of the sea; goods and buildings are insured against fire or water; persons are insured against sickness, accident, or death; and sometimes hazardous debts are insured.  [1913 Webster]

insure, v. i. 

 To underwrite; to make insurance; as, a company insures at three per cent.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

insure, v.tr.
1 (often foll. by against; also absol.) secure the payment of a sum of money in the event of loss or damage to (property, life, a person, etc.) by regular payments or premiums (insured the house for {pound}100,000; we have insured against flood damage) (cf. ASSURANCE).
2 (of the owner of a property, an insurance company, etc.) secure the payment of (a sum of money) in this way.
3 (usu. foll. by against) provide for (a possible contingency) (insured themselves against the rain by taking umbrellas).
4 US = ENSURE.

Derivative

insurable adj. insurability n.

Etymology

ME, var. of ENSURE

THESAURUS

insure

arm, armor, ascertain, assure, attest, back, be sponsor for, bless, bond, certify, champion, cinch, clear up, clinch, cloak, compass about, confirm, copyright, countersecure, cover, cushion, decide, defend, determine, dismiss all doubt, endorse, ensure, establish, fence, fend, find out, fix, get at, guarantee, guaranty, guard, harbor, haven, keep, keep from harm, make certain, make no doubt, make no mistake, make safe, make sure, make sure of, nail down, nestle, patent, police, protect, reassure, register, remove all doubt, ride shotgun for, safeguard, screen, secure, see that, see to it, set at rest, settle, shelter, shield, shroud, sign, sign for, sort out, sponsor, stand behind, stand up for, subscribe to, undersign, underwrite, warrant

ROGET THESAURUS

insure

Security

VB give security, give bail, give substantial bail, go bail, pawn, impawn, spout, mortgage, hypothecate, impignorate, guarantee, warrant, warrantee, assure, accept, indorse, underwrite, insure, cosign, countersign, sponsor, cosponsor, execute, stamp, sign, seal, let, sett, grant a lease, take a lease, hold a lease, hold in pledge, lend on security.

Certainty

VB be certain, stand to reason, render certain, insure, ensure, assure, clinch, make sure, determine, decide, set at rest, make assurance double sure, know, dogmatize, lay down the law.