INDEMNIFY

Indemnify, v. [f. L. indemn-is indemn + -fy.]
Etymological Identities: French: Indemniser; Spanish: Indemnizar; Italian: Indennizzare.


1. trans. To preserve, protect, or keep free from, secure against (any hurt, harm, or loss); to secure against legal responsibility for past or future actions or events; to give an indemnity to. OED.

Why must the rest of the Tradesmen be […] indemnified from charges? Arbuthnot (John Bull) 1712 OED

The fact indemnified the peace officers and their assistants, if they killed any of the mob in endeavouring to suppress such riot. Blackstone (Comm.) 1769 OED

An Act […] providing that, if Cook would make […] a true and full discovery, he should be indemnified for the crimes which he might confess. Macaulay (Hist. Eng.) 1855 OED

On entering into partnership in 1860 he was indemnified against liability on previously overdrawn accounts. 1870 Standard 12 Nov. OED

A sound system of working class insurance must be devised, which shall indemnify them against all the accidents and reverses of life. J. Rae (Contemp. Socialism) 1884 OED



2. To compensate (a person, etc.) for loss suffered, expenses incurred, etc. OED.
Semantic Identity: French: Indemniser; Spanish: Indemnizar; Italian: Indennizzare.

The plunder of the countries they invaded served to indemnify them for what they had expended in equipping themselves for the service. Robertson (Hist. Amer.) 1771 OED

It was left to the Sultan to indemnify his vassals for their loss. Mrs. A. Kerr (Hist. Servia) 1847 OED

[They] indemnified themselves for the nonpayment of their salaries by killing the deer for sale and for their own subsistence. Marryat (Childr. N. Forest) 1847 OED

[They] indemnified themselves by extortions from their unhappy subjects. Felton (Anc. & Mod. Gr.) 1866 OED

Those persons are indemnified by me. Ch. Dickens (Oliver Twist) (Estéf.)


b. To compensate for disadvantages, annoyances, hardships, etc. OED.

However long and dreary may be the winter, we are always indemnified by the spring. Grindon (Life) 1856 OED

She somehow appeared […] to indemnify herself for her privations. Mrs. Oliphant (Salem Ch.) 1863 OED



†3. To compensate, make up for. Obs. rare. OED.

Two advantages […] indemnified this defect. Beawes (Lex Mercat.) 1750 OED



Hence in"demnified, in"demnifying, ppl. adjs. Also in"demnifier, one who indemnifies. OED.

There is the like indemnifying clause, in case any of the mob be […] killed in the endeavour to disperse them. Blackstone (Comm.) 1769 OED

I am doing my best to repay this country for the protection which it has given me against our indemnified tyrants. Cobbett (Resid. U.S). 1817–18 OED

The amount which the indemnifier is bound to pay. Ld. Blackburn 1882 OED