assurancen.
/əˈʃɔːrəns/, /əˈʃɔːrn̩s/, /əˈʃʊərəns/, /əˈʃʊərn̩s/, U.S. /əˈʃʊrəns/ I. The action of assuring.
* Of making certain.† 2. A marriage engagement, betrothal. Obsolete.
1.
a. A promise or engagement making a thing certain; a formal engagement, pledge, or guarantee.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > pledge or assurance
wordOE
costOE
earnest1221
fayc1300
certainty1303
wager1306
plighta1325
pledge1371
assurancec1386
undertaking?a1400
faithc1405
surementc1410
to make affiancec1425
earnest pennya1438
warrant1460
trow1515
fidelity1531
stipulation1552
warranty1555
pawn1573
arrha1574
avouchment1574
assumption1590
word of honour1598
avouch1603
assecurance1616
preassurance1635
tower-stamp1642
parole of honour1648
spondence1657
honour1659
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 243 Wol ye maken assuraunce, As I schal say, assentyng to my lore?
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvii. 99 He is departed wyth thyne assuraunce.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) i. v. 173 Plight me the full assurance of your faith. View more context for this quotation
1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 78 The Macrons asked..whether they would giue assurance of that they said; Who answered, they were readie to giue, & take assurance.
1853 F. W. Robertson Serm. 3rd Ser. viii. 110 A symbol and assurance of the Divine pardon.
b. esp. An engagement guaranteeing peace and safety; terms of peace. Obsolete exc. Historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > peace treaty > [noun]
accordc1275
peacec1325
concordc1425
treaty1430
corda1500
composition1523
pacification1548
assurance1577
accommodation1624
convention1780
1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1842/1 [They] came in to the Lorde Lieutenant, submitting themselues to him, and were receiued into assurance.
c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 277 Thair was assurance and trewis tane betuix the Inglis and Scottismen.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Gothick Warre iii. 110 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The rest of the Army..took assurances and yeilded to Totilas.
1870 J. H. Burton Hist. Scotl. to 1688 VI. lxx. 493 Hamilton was angry that assurances should have been given to the Covenanters.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > betrothal > [noun]
truthc1300
betrothingc1315
truthingc1350
espousala1393
troth-plighta1393
desponsationa1400
troth-plightingc1400
ensurance1469
fiançailles1477
handfasting1483
assurancea1513
assuring1530
suring1530
contract1551
insurancea1556
trothing1565
despousage1570
betrothment1585
contracting1585
affiancing1596
spousage1596
espousage1599
handfasta1616
desponsories1645
hand-fastening1662
disposories1668
contraction1702
engagement1811
plightage1819
betrothal1844
heart-bond1887
introduction1965
kwanjula1973
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. cxxviiv The Flemynges..had constrayned theyr Erle to be assured by bonde of assuraunce vnto ye doughter of kyng Edward.
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 13 Woing allowed by assurance of wedding.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 550 In knitting vp of marriages, and assurance making.
1641 Life Wolsey in Harl. Misc. (1793) 105 The Lord Piercys assurance to Mrs. Anne Bullen.
3. A positive declaration intended to give confidence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [noun]
assurance1609
convincing1615
convincement1633
conviction1664
the mind > language > statement > assurance, confirmation, or guarantee > [noun] > an assurance
firmity1523
warrantise1586
assurance1609
insurance1710
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > [noun]
certaininga1300
faitha1382
certifyinga1387
assuring1530
certification1533
assurance1609
securement1622
certioration1653
ensurance1654
assecurationa1656
insurance1660
1609 S. Rowlands Knave of Clubbes 36 This assurance take, Some satisfaction I in part will make.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 303 He gave me all the Assurances that the Invention and Faith of Man could devise.
1880 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times III. xl. 202 He was probably quite sincere in the assurances he repeatedly gave.
** Of making secure.
4. Law. The securing of a title to property; the conveyance of lands or tenements by deed; a legal evidence of the conveyance of property.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > [noun] > by deed or charter
conveyance1523
assurance1583
granta1599
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E7v In times past when men dealt vprightly..sixe or seuen lines was sufficient for the assurance of any peece of land whatsoeeuer.
1648 Sheppard (title) The Touchstone of Common Assurances and Conveyances.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. ii. xix. 294 The legal evidences of this translation of property are called the common assurances of the Kingdom; whereby every man's estate is assured to him.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. ii. xix. 367 Copyhold estate..cannot possibly be transferred by any other assurance.
5. The action of insuring or securing the value of property in the event of its being lost, or of securing the payment of a specified sum in the event of a person's death; insurance.Technically, the present usage is to differentiate life-assurance, and fire- and marine-insurance; though, as will be seen from the quotations, assurance was the original term in reference to marine risks.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [noun] > act of insuring
surance1547
assurance1622
hedginga1631
insuring1647
over-insurance1755
self-insurance1829
insurance1878
under-insurance1893
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 159 To haue a regard what winde must serue, and the true season of the yeare, which maketh a difference in the price of assurance.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. i. 51 Some keep an Assurance-office in their chamber.
1692 London Gaz. No. 2747/4 Lost..a Police of Assurance made upon the Ship Olive-Branch.
1755 N. Magens Ess. Insurances II. 254 Assurance or Insurance is a just and faithful Compact, by which one, or more, in Consideration of the Payment of a Sum of Money agreed on, called the Insurance Premium, takes upon himself all the Dangers which may or shall happen to the Ship, Vessel, Effects, and Property of another.
1883 Daily News 18 Sept. 1/4 (advt.) The Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation.
1883 Sc. Prov. Inst. Prospect. Yearly payments for Assurance of £100 at death.
II. The state of being sure or assured.† 6. Objective certainty; = assuredness n. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [noun]
mid iwissea1000
certaina1300
certaintya1340
sickerness1390
sickerty1405
sureness1419
redinessc1425
suretyc1425
surenessa1475
assurancec1485
certitude1538
constancy1563
assuredness1570
certainness1571
confirmedness1667
c1485 Digby Myst. (1882) ii. 387 I can not beleve that thys ys of assurans.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xxxi. xvii Wo worth the trust without assuraunce.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 538 New friends of more assurance.
7. Security.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [noun] > safety or security
frithc893
sickernessc1230
orec1275
suretya1387
sickerty1405
surenessc1425
surance1426
security?a1475
warrandice1512
assurance1559
fastness1596
impunity1800
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates York vii. 4 Liung hopeles of his liues assuraunce.
1570 T. Wilson in tr. Demosthenes 3 Orations 13 (margin) Things wrongfully gotten haue none assurance.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 127 To sende..vnto a place of most assuraunce all suche as hee had taken prysoners.
1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie i. sig. N6v The fortifications being weak and of ill assurance.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. (new ed.) I. 427 The King's ascent to the crown and assurance therein.
8.
a. Subjective certainty; a being certain as to a fact, certitude; confidence, trust.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [noun]
sickerlaika1225
sickerness?c1225
sickerheadc1250
boldness1330
certaintya1340
traistc1340
assurancec1374
certain138.
sureness1419
surancea1450
affiancec1460
certitude?a1475
resting?a1475
security1535
firmancec1540
confidence1555
assuredness1561
resolution1590
plerophory1598
reliance1606
undoubtfulness1619
positiveness1711
positivity1741
decidedness1800
positivism1842
undoubtingness1857
inexpugnability1864
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde v. 1259 O trust, O feith, O depe asseuraunce!
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 309 In his hye cheuelry Thai had assouerans [1489 Adv. Yai assoweryt], trast trewly.
1601 W. Cornwallis Ess. II. xxix. sig. Q5 It is as naturall in men to purchase hope as assurance.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. i. 99 But yet Ile make assurance: double sure, And take a Bond of Fate. View more context for this quotation
1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in Poems (new ed.) II. 137 The doubt would rest, I dare not solve... Assurance only breeds resolve.
1843 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic I. ii. vi. §3 We can have full assurance of particular results.
b. in Theology. (See quot.)
ΚΠ
1651 C. Cartwright Certamen Religiosum i. 251 The Doctrine of Protestants concerning assurance of salvation..viz. that a man may have this assurance.
1852 W. Hamilton Discuss. Philos. & Lit. 493 Assurance, personal assurance, (the feeling of certainty that God is propitious to me,—that my sins are forgiven).
9. Self-confidence, self-reliance; confidence of manner, steadiness, intrepidity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > self-confidence > [noun]
sickerness?c1225
assuredness1591
assurance1594
self-confidence1604
self-reliance1668
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 263 Assurance is a certaine perswasion..whereby wee are confirmed in danger against euilles that threaten vs.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 72 Iaques..with his Flemmings, receiued the charge with great assurance.
1738 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) II. 214 To inspire him with a noble and prudent assurance, so necessary for those that are born to command.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 147. ⁋8 The benefits of publick education, and the happiness of an assurance early acquired.
10. In a bad sense: Hardihood, audacity, presumption, impudence.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [noun]
hardiessec1300
boldness1377
malapertness?a1439
over-boldnessc1450
insolencya1513
protervitya1527
impudency1529
sauce malapert1529
petulancy1537
procacitya1538
audacity1545
sauceliness1552
forehead1564
hardihead1579
hardihood1594
outfacing1598
audaciousness1599
impudentness1599
petulancea1600
impertinency1609
impertinence1612
impudencea1616
procacya1620
affrontedness1640
brow1642
front1653
insolence1668
affrontery1679
assurance1699
effrontery1715
affrontiveness1721
swagger1725
imperence1765
cheek1823
sassiness1834
cheekiness1838
pawk1855
gall1882
chutzpah1886
face1890
mouth1891
crust1900
rind1901
smarting1902
hide1916
brass neck1937
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 281 They..quote Authors they had never read, with an Air of Assurance.
1709 J. Swift Vindic. I. Bickerstaff 8 Several of my Friends had the Assurance to ask me, Whether I were in Jest?
1771 in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lxiii. 294 The Barrister has not the assurance to deny it flatly.
1832 H. Martineau Hill & Valley ii. 23 I should like to know where you picked up so much assurance.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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