1. The action of ensuring or making certain; concr. a means of ensuring.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 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. [Penn], 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. Mrq. Halifax, Misc. (1700), 64 (T.). There will be no Insurance here to make you amends, as there is in the Case of Fire.
1755. in Johnson.
