Hypertext Webster Gateway: "assurance"

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)

Assurance
The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr.
pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that
his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full
assurance [Gr. plerophoria, 'full bearing'] of faith" (Heb.
10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for
doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an
entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of
Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of
conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full
assurance of hope" (Heb. 6:11) is a sure and well-grounded
expectation of eternal glory (2 Tim. 4:7, 8). This assurance of
hope is the assurance of a man's own particular salvation.

This infallible assurance, which believers may attain unto as
to their own personal salvation, is founded on the truth of the
promises (Heb. 6:18), on the inward evidence of Christian
graces, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption (Rom.
8:16). That such a certainty may be attained appears from the
testimony of Scripture (Rom. 8:16; 1 John 2:3; 3:14), from the
command to seek after it (Heb. 6:11; 2 Pet. 1:10), and from the
fact that it has been attained (2 Tim. 1:12; 4:7, 8; 1 John 2:3;
4:16).

This full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. It
is the result of faith, and posterior to it in the order of
nature, and so frequently also in the order of time. True
believers may be destitute of it. Trust itself is something
different from the evidence that we do trust. Believers,
moreover, are exhorted to go on to something beyond what they at
present have when they are exhorted to seek the grace of full
assurance (Heb. 10:22; 2 Pet. 1:5-10). The attainment of this
grace is a duty, and is to be diligently sought.

"Genuine assurance naturally leads to a legitimate and abiding
peace and joy, and to love and thankfulness to God; and these
from the very laws of our being to greater buoyancy, strength,
and cheerfulness in the practice of obedience in every
department of duty."

This assurance may in various ways be shaken, diminished, and
intermitted, but the principle out of which it springs can never
be lost. (See {FAITH}.)

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Insurance \In*sur"ance\, n. [From {Insure}.]
1. The act of insuring, or assuring, against loss or damage
by a contingent event; a contract whereby, for a
stipulated consideration, called premium, one party
undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss
by certain specified risks. Cf. {Assurance}, n., 6.

Note: The person who undertakes to pay in case of loss is
termed the insurer; the danger against which he
undertakes, the risk; the person protected, the
insured; the sum which he pays for the protection, the
premium; and the contract itself, when reduced to form,
the policy. --Johnson's Cyc.

2. The premium paid for insuring property or life.

3. The sum for which life or property is insured.

4. A guaranty, security, or pledge; assurance. [Obs.]

The most acceptable insurance of the divine
protection. --Mickle.

{Accident insurance}, insurance against pecuniary loss by
reason of accident to the person.

{Endowment insurance} or {assurance}, a combination of life
insurance and investment such that if the person upon
whose life a risk is taken dies before a certain specified
time the insurance becomes due at once, and if he
survives, it becomes due at the time specified.

{Fire insurance}. See under {Fire}.

{Insurance broker}, a broker or agent who effects insurance.

{Insurance company}, a company or corporation whose business
it is to insure against loss, damage, or death.

{Insurance policy}, a certificate of insurance; the document
containing the contract made by an insurance company with
a person whose property or life is insured.

{Life insurance}. See under {Life}.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Assurance \As*sur"ance\, n. [OE. assuraunce, F. assurance, fr.
assurer. See {Assure}.]
1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full
confidence; that which is designed to give confidence.

Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in
that he hath raised him from the dead. --Acts xvii.
31.

Assurances of support came pouring in daily.
--Macaulay.

2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full
confidence or trust; freedom from doubt; certainty.

Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience. --Heb. x. 22.

3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity;
courage; confidence; self-reliance.

Brave men meet danger with assurance. --Knolles.

Conversation with the world will give them knowledge
and assurance. --Locke.

4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance
is intolerable.

5. Betrothal; affiance. [Obs.] --Sir P. Sidney.

6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion
of a certain event, as loss or death.

Note: Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in
relation to life contingencies, and insurance in
relation to other contingencies. It is called temporary
assurance, in the time within which the contingent
event must happen is limited. See {Insurance}.

7. (Law) Any written or other legal evidence of the
conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed.

Note: In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of
property are called the common assurances of the
kingdom. --Blackstone.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

assurance
n 1: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
"his assurance in his superiority did not make him
popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence";
"she spoke with authority" [syn: {self-assurance}, {confidence},
{self-confidence}, {authority}, {sureness}]
2: a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from
something: "an assurance of help when needed"; "signed a
pledge never to reveal the secret" [syn: {pledge}]
3: a statement intended to inspire confidence; "the President's
assurances were not respected"
4: a British term for some kinds of insurance

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