Third person singular present of ensure, meaning to make certain that something will happen or be the case.
From Old French enseurer, from en- (in) and sur (sure), ultimately from Latin securus (secure). The word developed alongside 'insure' and 'assure,' with subtle distinctions in usage evolving over time.
The trio of ensure, insure, and assure shows how English loves near-synonyms with subtle differences - ensure makes something certain, insure protects against loss, and assure removes doubt. Despite their shared etymology, these distinctions help English speakers express precise shades of meaning about certainty and protection.
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