† enˈsurance Obs. exc. in form insurance.
[a. OF. enseurance: see ensure v. and -ance.]
1. The action of ensuring or making certain; concr. a means of ensuring.
| 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 143 Were some mens Petitions to men, as non-sensicall as their Prayers to God, they would need no other ensurance of their deniall. 1688 Objection agst. Repeal Penal Laws & Tests 16, I will never seek or value an Ensurance by Oaths and Tests. |
2. Betrothal. Cf. ensure v. 4.
| 1469 Marg. Paston in Paston Lett. No. 601 II. 340, I have non very knowleche of your ensuraunce. |
3. Comm. The securing against loss in return for a fixed payment; = insurance.
| 1661 T. Mun Eng. Treas. (1664) 6 To be well acquainted with the laws..of the Ensurance office. a 1695 Marquis of Halifax (T.), There will be no ensurance here to make you amends, as there is in the case of fire. 1755 in Johnson. |