# assurance

Pronunciation: US say "uh-SHUUR-uhns" /əˈʃʊɹəns/; UK say "uh-SHOOR-uhns" /əˈʃʊəɹəns/

## Noun

1. A declaration or promise intended to inspire full confidence in someone.
   - Simple: A promise or statement meant to make someone feel sure and calm.
   - _The minister offered repeated assurance that prices would not rise again this year._
   - _Despite his assurance, the workers remained doubtful about the new schedule._
2. The state of being assured; total confidence or trust, free of any doubt.
   - Simple: A feeling of being totally sure about something, with no doubts.
   - _Investors wanted some assurance that their money would be safe._
   - _He felt a quiet assurance that he had finally made the right choice._
3. Firmness of mind; steady self-confidence and courage in the face of difficulty.
   - Simple: Strong self-confidence and a calm, steady mind.
   - _The young captain led the rescue with surprising assurance._
   - _Her assurance never wavered, even when the plan began to collapse._
4. A contract providing payment of a sum upon a certain event, such as death; in British usage it refers especially to life coverage.
   - Simple: A contract that pays out money when a certain event happens, such as death.
   - _The firm sold both life assurance and general insurance policies._
   - _He took out an assurance policy to provide for his children._
5. Excessive boldness; impudence or nerve beyond what is proper.
   - Simple: Bold rudeness and acting with far too much nerve.
   - _It took some assurance to walk in uninvited and demand a refund._
   - _His assurance in lecturing the professor astonished the entire class._
6. A written or other legal document evidencing the conveyance of property; a deed.
   - Simple: A legal paper that proves property has passed to a new owner.
   - _The solicitor examined every assurance in the chain of title._
   - _An old assurance confirmed that the estate had passed to the eldest son._
7. Personal, subjective certainty of one's own salvation.
   - Simple: A person's inner feeling of being sure that God has saved them.
   - _The sermon dwelt on the believer's assurance of salvation._
   - _He prayed for assurance that his sins were truly forgiven._

## Noun

8. A betrothal; a solemn pledge or promise of marriage. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A promise to marry someone, also called an engagement.
   - _The families celebrated the assurance of the young couple that spring._
   - _He broke their assurance and married another, to her family's lasting shame._

## Origin

From Middle English assuraunce, from Old French asseürance (from asseürer), formed as if from assure plus the suffix -ance.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/assurance (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).