assured

Pluralassureds

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of assure.

   The manager assured customers that refunds would be processed quickly.

   He had assured the committee of his full cooperation.

   Note

   One spelling does two jobs. It is the simple past (she assured him) and the participle that follows have or forms the passive (he had been assured). The verb behind it usually takes a person as its object: you assure someone of something, or assure them that it is so. Its older "make sure and secure" meaning overlaps with ensure, which takes the thing made certain instead.

2. 2
   adjective

   Showing confidence in oneself; self-assured and certain in manner.

   The young pianist played with an assured touch that belied her age.

   She remained assured even as the questions grew tougher.

   Similarconfident, self-confident, poised, composed, sure

   Oppositehesitant, diffident, insecure, unsure

   Note

   It can praise how something is done rather than who does it. Marc Higginson, writing for BBC Sport in 2011, credits Danny Rose with "an assured display at full-back." Applied to a person, it sits close to self-assured. Applied to a display, a touch or a performance, it means controlled and free of nerves, the mark of someone who knows what they are doing.

3. 3
   adjective

   Made certain or guaranteed; secure and not in doubt.

   Funding for the project is assured for the next five years.

   With the contract signed, her position at the firm felt assured.

   Similarguaranteed, certain, secure, sure, safe

   Oppositeuncertain, doubtful, insecure, precarious

4. 4
   noun

   The person covered by an insurance policy; the policyholder protected against loss.

   Following the claim, the assured was reimbursed for storm damage.

   The policy requires the assured to report any change in circumstances.

   Similarinsured

   Oppositeinsurer

   Note

   The participle turned noun, at home in policy wording beside its synonym insured. Like insured, it normally takes the: the assured must notify the insurer. It also forms a plural, assureds, for policies that cover more than one party. In life cover, the assured may be the person whose life is insured, distinct from any named beneficiary.

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