▪ I. indemnify, v.1
(ɪnˈdɛmnɪfaɪ)
Also 7 indempnifie, -damnifie.
[f. L. indemn-is indemn + -fy.]
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.
| 1611 Cotgr., Indemniser, to..indamnifie. 1651 Biggs New Disp. ¶217 Save harmles and keep indempnified. 1665 J. Webb Stone-Heng (1725) 153 An Asylum, to which any of them flying remain'd indemnified for whatever Delict committed. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull ii. iv, Why must the rest of the Tradesmen be..indemnified from charges? 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. xi. 142 The fact indemnified the peace officers and their assistants, if they killed any of the mob in endeavouring to suppress such riot. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxi. IV. 554 An Act..providing that, if Cook would make..a true and full discovery, he should be indemnified for the crimes which he might confess. 1870 Standard 12 Nov., On entering into partnership in 1860 he was indemnified against liability on previously overdrawn accounts. 1884 J. Rae Contemp. Socialism 376 A sound system of working class insurance must be devised, which shall indemnify them against all the accidents and reverses of life. |
2. To compensate (a person, etc.) for loss suffered, expenses incurred, etc.
| 1693 Mem. Ct. Teckely iii. 2 That they who formerly possessed Employments, should be indempnified for the Loss of their Posts. 1771 Robertson Hist. Amer. (1778) II. vi. 226 The plunder of the countries they invaded served to indemnify them for what they had expended in equipping themselves for the service. 1847 Mrs. A. Kerr Hist. Servia xx. 377 It was left to the Sultan to indemnify his vassals for their loss. 1847 Marryat Childr. N. Forest i, [They] indemnified themselves for the nonpayment of their salaries by killing the deer for sale and for their own subsistence. 1866 Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. II. ii. vii. 395 They..indemnified themselves by extortions from their unhappy subjects. |
b. To compensate for disadvantages, annoyances, hardships, etc.
| 1707 Reflex. upon Ridicule 121 You ought to indemnify others for the Uneasiness you give them. 1836 Macgillivray tr. Humboldt's Trav. xxv. 376 The high price of provisions indemnifies the cultivator for the hard life. 1856 Grindon Life xiv. (1875) 173 However long and dreary may be the winter, we are always indemnified by the spring. 1766 Burke Corr. (1844) I. 110 This is one way of indemnifying one's self for the plainness of one's habit. 1863 Mrs. Oliphant Salem Ch. iii. 40 She somehow appeared..to indemnify herself for her privations. |
† 3. To compensate, make up for. Obs. rare.
| 1750 Beawes Lex Mercat. (1752) 3 Two advantages..indemnified this defect. |
Hence inˈdemnified, inˈdemnifying ppl. adjs. Also inˈdemnifier, one who indemnifies.
| 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. xi. 143 There is the like indemnifying clause, in case any of the mob be..killed in the endeavour to disperse them. 1817–18 Cobbett Resid. U.S. (1822) 341, I am doing my best to repay this country for the protection which it has given me against our indemnified tyrants. 1882 Ld. Blackburn in Law Rep. 7 App. Cases 339 The amount which the indemnifier is bound to pay. |
▪ II. † inˈdemnify, v.2 Obs. rare.
Also en-.
[f. in-2 + damnify, with vowel assimilated to indemn.]
trans. To hurt, harm.
| 1583 T. Stocker Hist. Civ. Warres Lowe C. i. 63 a, He..did not belieue that his Maiestie by this occasion coulde any way be endemnified. 1593 Lodge William Longbeard E ij, What harme the Rhodians haue doone thee, that thou so much indemnifiest them? |