əˈshü(ə)r, aˈ-, -üə transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English assuren, from Middle French assurer, from Old French aseürer, from Medieval Latin assecurare, from Latin ad- + Medieval Latin -securare (from Latin securus secure) — more at secure
1. : to make safe (as from risks or against overthrow) : insure , secure
an international organization capable of assuring the security of all nations — Vera M. Dean
2. : to give confidence to : reassure , encourage , strengthen
a pure man forgives or pleads for mercy or assures the penitent — F.W.Robertson
3. : to make sure or certain : put beyond all doubt : convince
glancing backward … to assure himself that neither of his late antagonists was returning — C.G.D.Roberts
4. : to inform positively : tell earnestly : declare confidently to
Constance assured her that the doctor would have nothing new to advise — Arnold Bennett
I can assure you of his reliability
5. obsolete
a. : to give a pledge or guarantee of : promise
assuring the king perpetual love — John Smith †1631
b. : to state with assurance
about which neither … could assure anything — Isaac Barrow
c. : to make sure the possession of : secure the title of
and with my proper blood assure any soul to be great Lucifer's — Christopher Marlowe
6. : to make certain the coming or attainment of : ensure
spent the better part of a year in painstaking research to assure accuracy — A.W.Barkley
Synonyms: see ensure