ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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verb

assure

uh-SHOOR/əˈʃʊr/

To establish confidence or certainty that something is so.

The teacher assures the worried student that the presentation will go well.

A teacher confidently reassures a worried student before a presentation, encouraging eye contact and open gesture, student's worry easing.

Etymology

asLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+sureLatinsafe or free from care

The pieces express making someone secure or free from care. In this sense, that security is confidence supplied by a promise or statement that removes worry.

In context

InspiringPhilosophy8:48

telling those he healed to not tell anyone was a way to assure the community he was not performing miracles to claim honor for himself but that he only wanted to help

Honor and Shame: Cultural Context of the Biblical World

More examples

Careful preparation assured the project's success.
She kept assuring him that no apology was needed.
The extra funding will help assure continued access to the service.

Forms

assure · assures · assured · assuring

Similar words

reassure: Specifically restores confidence or relieves an existing worry.
ensure: Focuses on making an outcome certain rather than telling someone.