assure

To assure is defined as to make a statement for the purpose of inspiring morale or belief in someone

(verb)

An example of a time during which a nurse might assure family members is when someone is going into surgery.

The definition of assure is to make someone confident in their beliefs and ideas.

(verb)

An example of a time when some may assure himself is when he leaves the house and reminds himself that he did check to make sure all of the lights are turned out.

To assure means to make a commitment or promise.

(verb)

An example of a time when someone might assure something is a salesperson promising that a product will work.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See assure in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb assured, assuring

  1. to make (a person) sure of something; convince
  2. to give confidence to; reassure: the news assured us
  3. to declare to or promise confidently: I assure you I'll be there
  4. to make (a doubtful thing) certain; guarantee
  5. to make safe or secure
  6. Chiefly Brit. to insure against loss, esp. of life

Origin: ME assuren < OFr asseurer < ML assecurare < L ad-, to + securus, secure

See assure in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb as·sured, as·sur·ing, as·sures
  1. To inform positively, as to remove doubt: assured us that the train would be on time.
  2. To cause to feel sure: assured her of his devotion.
  3. To give confidence to; reassure.
  4. To make certain; ensure: “Nothing in history assures the success of our civilization” (Herbert J. Muller).
  5. To make safe or secure.
  6. Chiefly British To insure, as against loss.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English assuren

Origin: , from Old French assurer

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *assēcūrāre, to make sure

Origin: : Latin ad-, ad-

Origin: + Latin sēcūrus, secure; see secure

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Related Forms:

  • as·surˈa·ble adjective
  • as·surˈer, as·surˈor noun
Usage Note: Assure, ensure, and insure all mean “to make secure or certain.” Only assure is used with reference to a person in the sense of “to set the mind at rest”: assured the leader of his loyalty. Although ensure and insure are generally interchangeable, only insure is now widely used in American English in the commercial sense of “to guarantee persons or property against risk.”

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