life-insurance
UK[ˈlaɪf ɪnˌʃʊərəns]US[ˈlaɪf ɪnˌʃʊrəns]
n
A type of insurance in which a company agrees to pay a sum of money upon the death of the insured person or after a set period.
Morpheme Breakdown
life
insurance
life
insurance
Etymology
The compound noun 'life-insurance' is a modern financial term built from two foundational English words. 'Life' originates from the Proto-Germanic 'libam', carrying the essential meaning of "existence, lifetime." 'Insurance' has a more complex journey, deriving from the Latin 'securus' (secure), which itself combines 'se-' (without) and 'cura' (care). The concept evolved through Old French into English, denoting the practice of securing against financial loss. The compound logically merges these concepts: it is the specific financial instrument ('insurance') that provides security against the economic risk associated with the event of death ('life'), effectively translating the ancient idea of "removing care" into a contemporary contractual guarantee for one's dependents.
Analysis
Structure: life + insurance
life: From Old English 'līf' (life, existence). The core noun denoting the condition of being alive.
insurance: From Latin 'securus' (secure, free from care) via Old French. The noun denoting the act, system, or business of providing financial protection against risk or loss.
Examples
He took out a life-insurance policy to ensure his family's financial stability.
The cost of life-insurance often depends on your age and health.
Her employer provides life-insurance as part of the benefits package.