| 释义 |
▪ I. † enˈsure, a. Obs. rare—1.
[a. AF. ensur, f. en- (see en-1) + sur sure; but perh. to be taken as phrase en sur in a state of security.]
Sure, confident.
c1430Hymns Virg. (1867) 18 In þis world is hard auenture: Who-so þerof is moost ensure, Sunnest schal he be schamed and schent.
▪ II. ensure, v.|ɛnˈʃʊə(r)|
Forms: 5 ensuer, -sewer, 4– ensure. See also insure.
[ad. AF. enseurer, f. en- (see en-1) + OF. seur (mod.F. sûr) sure: the AF. vb. may be regarded as an alteration of OF. asseurer to assure.
The word freq. occurs in individual MSS. of Chaucer, but the better attested reading in these passages is app. assure.
The form insure is properly a mere variant of ensure, and still occasionally appears in all the surviving senses. In general usage, however, it is now limited to the financial sense (with reference to ‘insurance’ of life or property), in which the form ensure is wholly obsolete.]
†1. trans. To make (a person) mentally sure; to convince, render confident. Followed by subord. clause. Chiefly pass. and refl. Obs.
c1500Melusine 68 They were ensured that they wold & sought but good. 1568Grafton Chron. Hen. V, II. 495 The French enemies..ensured themselves to gaine..whatsoever before they had lost. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 147 That the body do not lock up [souls] there for the sake of its hardfastness or closeness, we are ensured.
†2. To give security to, pledge one's faith to (a person) for the execution of a promise. Obs.
1413Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle iv. xxxviii. (1859) 63, I ensure you feythfully, I shall brynge you to a place where ye shalle sene hym. 1557K. Arthur (Copland) ii. xiii, Here I ensure you by the faithe of my body neuer to departe.
†3. To pledge one's credit to (a person); to tell (a person) confidently that (something is true).
c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 2115 Ariadne, I swere & yow ensure This sevene yer I have youre servaunt be. c1450Why I can't be a Nun 364 in E.E.P. (1862) 147 So God me spede, I yow ensewer, Ellys yowre habyte ys no trew token. 1483Caxton Cato C iiij, I ensure you that it is trouthe. 1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Z viij, I ensure the, the worme in the tymbre..doth not so muche domage. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. xv. 314 She advised him rather to marry, ensuring him that no Lady in the land..would refuse him.
†4. To guarantee (a thing) to a person; to warrant (a fact). Const. to or dat. Obs.
1460in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 62 Nay, that I you ensure. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 424/1 Testefyeng and ensuryng that the holy man fiacre was ful of wicked & euyl arte. 1528Roy Sat., I durst ensure the one thynge. 1733Neal Hist. Purit. II. 574 All which he ensured upon his royal word.
†b. To guarantee (an expense). Obs.
1738Johnson Let. Cave in Boswell (1887) I. 122 And since the expense will be no more, I shall contentedly insure it.
†5. To engage (a person) by a pledge or contract.
c1400Rowland & O. 160 He es ensurede to myn eme & mee. 1440J. Shirley Dethe K. James (1818) 9 Yn the same wise bene ye sworne and ensurid to kepe youre peple.
†b. esp. To engage by a promise of marriage, or (rarely) by marriage itself; to betroth, espouse. Cf. assure 4. Obs.
c1450Lonelich Grail lii. 1019 So that ensured thanne bothe they were, And for the Mariages they ordeyned there. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxl. heading, Howe the yonge erle of Flaunders ensured the kynges doughter of Englande. c1530― Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 237 Let vs..sende for the archbysshop, to thentent to ensure you togyther. c1550Cheke Matt. i. 18 After his mother Mari was ensured to Joseph. 1558Bp. Watson Sev. Sacram. xxviii. 177 When the two parties..haue sayde these woordes, then bee they ensured and iustly married together. 1606G. W[oodcocke] tr. Hist. Ivstine 79 b, No other maide should be contracted and ensured to any husband, etc.
6. To secure, make safe (against, from risks).
a1704L'Estrange (J.), A mendicant contracted with a country fellow..to ensure his sheep for that year. 1776Sir J. Reynolds Disc. vii. (1876) 424 Sufficient to ensure us from all error and mistake. 1847Mrs. A. Kerr Hist. Servia 426 To ensure her friends against any sort of reaction. 1883Manch. Exam. 26 Nov. 5/3 The Swiss lake steamers are..too toylike to ensure their passengers against reasonably probable risks.
†7. Comm. To insure (a person's life, property, etc.). Obs.
1693E. Halley in Phil. Trans. XVII. 602 The price of ensuring the Life of a Man of 20. 1747Scheme Equip. Men of War 40 'Tis natural for us to ensure our Effects.
8. To make certain the occurrence or arrival of (an event), or the attainment of (a result); = assure 5.
1742Young Nt. Th. vii. 633 All promise, some ensure, a second scene. 1796Burke Regic. Peace Wks. 1842 II. 380 Whether the authority..can ensure their execution. 1839Thirlwall Greece II. 339 Having taken no precautions to ensure regular supplies. 1879W. H. White in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 80/1 By this arrangement it is ensured that there shall be no leak.
9. To make (a thing) sure to or for a person; to secure.
1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 518/2 Ensuring them the victory. 1799Wellington in Gurw. Disp. I. 48 The only rule, which..can ensure for the officers..the conveniences which they have a right to expect. 1847L. Hunt Jar Honey x. (1848) 138 It ensures us an intercourse with a nation we esteem. 1861May Const. Hist. (1863) I. i. 12 A constitutional government ensures to the King a wide authority. |