ensure
UK[ɪnˈʃʊə(r)]US[ɪnˈʃʊr]
v
To make certain that something will happen or be the case.
v
To make someone certain or secure about something.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
sure
en
to make
sure
certain
Etymology
The word 'ensure' entered English in the late 14th century from Anglo-French enseurer, which itself was a compound of the prefix en- (meaning "to make") and the adjective seur (meaning "sure, safe"). The Anglo-French term was a calque, or loan translation, of the Old French aseürer, which is the source of the English word 'assure'. The core Latin ancestor is securus, from se- ("without") and cura ("care"), literally meaning "free from care". Thus, the etymological logic of 'ensure' is the act of making a situation or person "free from care" by guaranteeing its certainty or safety.
Analysis
Structure: en (to make) + sure (certain)
- en: A prefix of French origin, ultimately from Latin in-, meaning "to put into, to cause to be".
- sure: An adjective of French origin, from Latin securus, meaning "safe, secure, certain".
Examples
The new regulations are designed to ensure public safety.
Please ensure all doors are locked before leaving the building.
His early goal helped ensure the team's victory.