insure
v.v. to pay a company money so they will pay you back if something you own is lost, damaged, or stolen.
v. to provide or obtain financial compensation against loss, damage, or death through a contract with an insurance provider. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the person or property being protected.
You should insure your house against fire and theft.
The shipping company refused to insure the cargo because it was not packed according to safety standards.
While it is standard practice to insure a vehicle for its market value, some collectors choose to insure rare cars for an agreed-upon replacement cost to account for appreciation.
First attested in c. 1440, as a variant of Middle English ensuren (from Anglo-Norman enseurer, itself from en- + seür (“sure”), probably influenced by Old French asseürer (“to assure”)); took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" in 1635, replacing assure. Doublet of ensure.
The verb is transitive and often takes the preposition 'against' for the specific risk.
I need to ensure my carI need to insure my carLearners often confuse 'insure' (financial protection) with 'ensure' (to make certain that something happens).