/ensure/

/ensure/

Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: ɛnʃʊə(r). 

-) Etymology: from Anglo-French enseurer, from en- (prefix for in-) + Old French seur (= sure).

-) Preterite tense: ensured. 

-) Preterite participle: ensured.

-) Present participle: ensuring.

-) It is dated from the end of 1300.

Transitively: 1. Obsolete and pristine values: a. To render (one) sure or confident of something (as by declaring, persuading, or convincing); assure; convince. b. To engage by a promise of marriage. 

But a person of my acquaintance - a man of perfect credibleness - has just come to ensure me that my young master will be here again in the currency of the day.

George Reynolds… The mysteries of London 1845

 He then walked leisurely around the room; and although he knew there was no other outlet, he cast a glance of scrutinizing import on every side, as if to ensure himself that he was alone.

Charles Lever… Roland Cashel 1850

2. To make (a person) secure against something, as a loss; to protect from a risk.

-) Synonyms: to secure, assure.

-) With the preposition from, or against, + noun of the risk:

 But while my ignorance of men and affairs in this country will ensure you from any treachery on my part, I very much fear that it will also preclude me from affording you any advantageous advice or assistance.

Benjamin Disraeli… Vivian Grey 1826

The only reason, which Capt. Ross had [… expressed] to his men, for directing his course towards Fury Beach, was the hope, that he should there find such a stock of provisions, as would ensure them from all risk of actual want.

Robert Huish… The last voyage… 1835

The captain of an American vessel with whom I am slightly acquainted, promised me that he would gain more particulars concerning him, and, if he were in actual want, leave money with some responsible person for his use, so as to ensure him against starvation.

Frank Smedley… Frank Fairlegh 1850

I cannot doubt that any nation, by wisely expending half so much in systematic efforts to educate, employ steadily and reward amply its poorer classes, would have been strengthened and ensured against invasion far more than it could be by walls like precipices and a belt of fortresses as impregnable as Gibraltar.

Horace Greeley… Glances at Europe 1851

The three fellows still abroad upon the island did not greatly trouble us; a single sentry on the shoulder of the hill was sufficient to ensure us against any sudden onslaught, and we thought, besides, they had had more than enough of fighting.

Robert Stevenson… Treasure Island 1883

3. Obsolete: to insure (something). 

4. (The subject: something or someone) to make sure or certain the occurrence or the attainment of (something); assure; to cause to be inevitable or certain to happen.

-) Antonyms: to jeopardize, endanger, imperil; risk.

-) Translation: assurer, in French; asegurar, in Spanish; assicurare, in Italian.

[…] anciently, as well as in the present day, a Scottish house was always rather too narrow and limited for the extent of the owner's hospitality, and some shift and contrivance was necessary, upon any unusual occasion, to ensure the accommodation of all the guests.

Walter Scott… The Monastery 1820

[…] your road is dangerous, and I know no escort that could be provided to ensure your safety.

William Rede… The wedded wanderer 1827

He offered money to ensure my secrecy; but I refused it indignantly, bidding him depart and see me no more.

Ellen Pickering… The Squire 1837

Whatever were the circumstances of their election, their confinement for the night was, no doubt, a wise precaution, to ensure their being sober in the morning.

John Stephens… Travel in Yucatan 1843

"[…] let me keep my hand just on your knee, and I swear I won't put my hand higher." To ensure my keeping my hand there, she held my wrist… 

Walter… My secret life 1888

[…] said I, using all three terms to ensure my being understood.

Walter… My secret life 1888

During his absence Buccarelli, the governor of Buenos Ayres, took forcible possession of the island, and, in order to ensure being the first to send the news to Spain, had the impudence to remove the rudder of a British ship of war, and detained her for twenty days.

William Hunt… History of England 1905

-) With an indirect object, or with the preposition to, or for, to signify the indirect object:

[…] and that the money destined by Guzman's liberality for their ornamental education, might be [… used] to the purpose of ensuring them the power of supporting themselves, and assisting their parents.

Charles Maturin… Melmoth the Wanderer 1820

No, I should wish them to marry, if I could ensure for them good husbands, not merely good fortunes.

Maria Edgeworth… Tales and Novels 1825

Each, therefore, entertained well-grounded hopes, that by adopting the truce proposed, he would ensure himself an advantage over his antagonist, although neither exactly knew in what manner or to what extent this success was to be obtained.

Walter Scott… Castle Dangerous 1831

[…] the insect in the fly or moth state, the female being quite incapable of flight, and the male, although of a much lighter make, and more active, can fly but very imperfectly; the latter circumstance ensures to us the eggs for the following season, and thus completes the adaptation of the insect, in its different stages, to the useful purpose it is destined to fulfil for our advantage.

John Loudon… Natural history 1832

I will answer for that, Mademoiselle; for I took care to ensure myself and my good Commander here, the means of entering the Chateau of Marzay when we liked.

George Payne… Rose D'Albret 1844

Another reason [… stated to demonstrate the importance of] grammar in the study of a foreign language, is the prevalent belief that a knowledge of it ensures to the learners a knowledge of the vernacular grammar: we will subsequently show the fallacy of this opinion.

Claude Marcel… Language as a means… 1853

If you consent to do me a trifling service, I will bestow upon you what will ensure you full meals for twelve months to come.

The New Monthly Magazine, vol. 99 1853

[…] it ensured us a sufficient income at the very commencement of our undertakings.

The Banker’s Magazine 1866

-) English words derived from the verb ENSURE: ensurer, insurance, insurant, insure, insurer, insurable, insurability, uninsurable, uninsurability.