assure [uh-shoo r, uh-shur] Word Origin 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 suffixRelated 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 British Dictionary definitions for inter-assured 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, nounWord Origin for assure C14: from Old French aseürer to assure, from Medieval Latin assēcūrāre to secure or make sure, from sēcūrus secure Word Origin and History for inter-assured 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.