insurance 
to the risk involvcil), undertakes to compensate 
the other for loss on a specified thing, from 
specified causes. Thu party agreeing to make the 
compensation is usually culled the insurer or underwriter, 
the other the injured or sutured, the agreed considera- 
tion the pri mi n <K . tin- \\rilt.-n contract a policy, the 
events insured against rink* or perils, anil the subject, 
riK'ht, or interest to be protected the intttrablc interest, 
Bouvier. 
3. The premium paid for insuring property, 
life, etc. 4f. Kngagement; betrothal. 
Dyd I not knowe afore of the insurance 
Betweene Ouwyn Uoodlucke and Christian Custance? 
Udall, KoUter Doister, IT. 6. 
Agreement for Insurance. See agreement. Co-In- 
surance, insurance In which two or more parties are 
jointly responsible for any loss which may come upon 
certain specitled property ; specifically, a form of Insur- 
ance In which the Insured, In consideration of a reduced 
rate of premium, agrees to maintain insurance upon his 
property to a certain specified extent, say 80 per cent, 
of its actual cash value, and failing to do so becomes 
his own insurer for the difference, and In case of par- 
tial loss la jointly responsible with the insurance com- 
pany in that proportion. Graveyard insurance, a 
method of swindling insurance companies by means of 
insurance effected on the life of a very old or Infirm 
person, who, through collusion with the medical ex- 
aminer, may be personated by one of robust health, or 
otherwise falsely passed upon. Hazardous insurance. 
See hazardou*. Insurance broker, one whose busi- 
ness it is to procure Insurance for other persons, or to 
act as broker between owners of property and insurance 
companies. Insurance commissioner, In some of the 
United States, a State officer who in behalf of the public 
maintains a supervision over the affairs of insurance com- 
panies. Insurance company, a company or corporation 
whose business is to insure against loss or damage. In- 
surance policy. See def. 2, above. = 8yn. Assurance, 
Insurance. See the extract. 
The terms insurance and assurance have been used in- 
discriminate^ for contracts relative to life, fire, and ship- 
ping. As custom has rather more frequently employed 
the latter term for those relative to life, I have in this 
volume entirely restricted the word assurance to that 
sense. If this distinction be admitted, assurance will 
signify a contract dependent on the duration of life, which 
must either happen or fail, and insurance will mean a 
contract relating to any other uncertain event, which may 
partly happen or partly fail. 
Babbage, Comparative View of Institutions for Assurance 
[of Lives (1826), quoted In Encyc. Brit., XIII. 160. 
(The distinction here made has not become established, 
although it Is observed to some extent, especially in Great 
Britain.] 
insurancert (in-shor'an-scr), n. [< insurance + 
-ei'l.] An insurer; an underwriter. 
The far-fam'd sculptor, and the laurell'd bard, 
Those bold irnturancers of deathless fame, 
Supply their little feeble aids in vain. 
Blair, The Grave. 
insure (in-shoV), v. ; prot. and pp. insured, ppr. 
insuring. [Also ensure; ME. insure*, ensuren, 
enseuren, < OF. (AF.) enseurer, assure, < en- + 
seur, sure. Cf. assure, which is earlier.] I. 
trims. 1. To make sure, certain, or secure ; give 
assurance of ; assure : as, to insure safety to any 
one. 
The knyght ensured hym his feith to do In this maner. 
Merlin (E. E. T. a), lit 884. 
I ensure you, very many godly men In divers places give 
daily thanks unto God in prayer for you. 
T. Lever, in Bradford's Letters (Parker Soc., 1853), II. 137. 
It Is easy to entail debts on succeeding ages, but how 
to ensure peace for any term of years Is difficult enough. 
Swift. 
Specifically 2. To guarantee or secure indem- 
nity for future loss or damage (as to a building 
from fire, or to a person from accident or death) 
on certain stipulated conditions; make a sub- 
ject of insurance; assure: as, to insure a ship 
or its cargo, or both, against the dangers of the 
sea ; to insure a house against fire. 
Take a whiff from our fields, and your excellent wives 
Will declare it's all nonsense injuring your lives. 
0. W. Holme*, Berkshire Festival. 
3f. To pledge ; betroth. 
There grew such a secret love between them that at 
length they were insured together. Intending to marry. 
O. Cavendish, Wolsey (ed. Singer, 1826), I. 67. 
= Syn. Insure, Assure. Assure may express the making 
certain in mind : as, I was aaured of safety by his friendly 
manner ; insure has not this sense. Insure is a possible 
word to express the making certain In fact, and is more 
common than enf'ire: as, his lack of money insured his 
early return ; assure has not this sense. Insure and assure 
are both used of the act of pledging a payment of money 
upon loss or death, but assure is rarely used in that sense 
in the United States. 
II. intriiii.i. To undertake to secure or assure 
atrainst loss or damage on receipt of a certain 
payment or premium; make insurance : as, the 
company iimurrs at a low premium. 
insurer (in-shor'er). ii. I. One who or that 
which insures or makes sure or certain. 
Tin- mysterious Scandinavian standard of white silk, 
having in its centre a ravi'ii. . . . the supposed insurer 
of victory. I're'ile, Hist, of the H-.IR, p. 164. 
2. One who contracts, in consideration of a 
stipulated payment called a jirrmiiim, to in- 
3129 
demnify a person or company against certain 
perils or losses, or against a particular event; 
an underwriter. 
That the chance of loss is frequently undervalued, and 
scarce ever valued more than it Is worth, we may learn 
from the very moderate profit of insurers. 
Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, I. 10. 
insurge lin-utrj'), r. ; pret. and pp. insurged, 
ppr. fin/urging. [Early mod. E. insourgc; < F. in- 
.turgcr = Sp. Pg. insurgir = It. insurgere, < L. in- 
aurgere, rise upon, rise up against, \ in, upon, + 
sitrgcre, rise: see surge.} I.f intrant. To rise 
against anything ; engage in a hostile uprising ; 
become insurgent. 
It Is the devilishe sort of men that intounjeth and refo- 
eth garbolle against the voritie. ./ . Udatl, On Luke xxiii. 
What mischief hath insurged In realmcs by Intestine 
de vision. //'/', Hen. IV., Int. 
If In the communicacion or debating therof, either 
with her sonne or his counsail, ther shulde in*urrfc any 
double or difficulty, . . . *he wolde Interpone her au- 
thority. State Papers, Wolsey to Hen. VIII., 1B27. 
II. trans. To stir up to insurrection. [Bare.] 
The news of the dispute between England and Spain 
about Nootka Sound in 1790 recalled him [MirandaJ to 
England, where he saw a good deal of Pitt, who had de- 
termined to make use of him to insurge. the Spanish colo- 
nies, but the peaceful arrangement of the dispute again 
destroyed his hopes. Encyc. Brit., XVI. 498. 
insurgence (in-ser'jens). n. [= F. insurgence; 
as iitsurgen(t) + -ce.j Same as insurgency. 
There was a moral inturyenee In the minds of grave 
men against the Court of Rome. 
Oeorge Eliot, Romola, Ixxl. 
Insurgency (in-s6r'jen-si), . The state or con- 
dition of being insurgent; a state of insurrec- 
tion. 
Our neighbors, In their great revolutionary agitation, if 
they could not comprehend our constitution, Imitated our 
arts of inturyency. 1. D' Israeli, Amen, of Lit., IL 363. 
insurgent (in-ser'jent), a. and n. [< F. insur- 
gent = Sp. Pg. It. insurgente, < L. insurgen(t-)s, 
ppr. of insurgere, rise up or to, rise up against : 
see iiisurgc.] I. a. Rising against lawful au- 
thority or established government ; engaged in 
insurrection or rebellion : as, insurgent chiefs. 
In the wildest anarchy of man's insurgent appetites and 
sins, there is still a reclaiming voice. Chalmers. 
Many who are now upon the pension rolls, and in re- 
ceipt of the bounty of the Government, are In the ranks 
of the insurgent army, or giving them aid and comfort. 
Lincoln, In Raymond, p. 174. 
II. n. One who rises in forcible opposition to 
lawful authority; one who engages in armed 
resistance to a government or to the execution 
of laws. 
Rich with her spoils, his sanction will dismay. 
And bid the insurgents tremble and obey. 
Falconer, The Demagogue. 
The instinients rode about the town, and cried, Liberty ! 
liberty ! and called upon the people to join them. 
/ Adams, Works, I. 103. 
To advance Is the only safety of insurgents. 
R. W. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., XT. 
=Syn. Insurgent, Rebel, Traitor. An inmtryenl differs 
from a rebel chiefly in degree. The insurgent opposes the 
execution of a particular law or scheme of laws, or the 
carrying out of some particular measure, or he wishes to 
make a demonstration in favor of some measure or to 
express discontent; the rel*'l attempts to overthrow or 
change the government, or he revolts and attempts to place 
his country under another jurisdiction. A traitor is one 
who breaks faith or trust by betraying his country or vio- 
lating his allegiance, especially a sworn allegiance : the 
word Is applied in strong reprobation to one who, even 
without express breach of faith, makes war upon his sov- 
ereign or country, or goes over from the side to which his 
loyalty is due. See insurrection. 
insurmountability (in-ser-moun-ta-bU'i-ti), n. 
[< iiiftiiniiniiiiliible: see -bility.] The character 
of being insurmountable. 
insurmountable (in-ser-moun'ta-bl), a. [= F. 
iiiKiirmontable; as in- 3 + surmountable.] Not 
surmountable; incapable of being surmounted, 
passed over, or overcome. 
The face of the mountain towards the sea is already by- 
nature, or soon will be by art, an insurmountable preci- 
pice. B. Smnourne, Travels through Spain, vliL 
insurmountableness (in-ser-moun'ta-bl-nes), 
n. The state of being insurmountable, 
insurmountably (in-ser-moun'ta-bli), adv. So 
as not to be surmounted or overcome, 
insurrect (in-su-rekf), " < [< L. insurrectus, 
pp. of insurgere, rise up : see insurge, insurgent.'] 
It. To rise up. 
Richard Franck, In his Northern Memoirs, p. 802, uses 
inturrect of " vapours." P. Hall, False Philol., p. 78. 
2. To rise; make an insurrection. [Colloq.] 
If there's any gratitude in free niggers, now they'll 'n- 
surrect and take me out of prison. 
\'anity Fair, April 5, 1802. 
insurrection (iu-su-rek'shon), n. [= F. i.r- 
ri'etion = Sp. intturreecion "= Pg. insurrci$3o = 
insusceptive 
It. insurrezione,<. LL. innurrectio(n-) (in a gloss), 
a rising up, insurrection, < L. insurgere, pp. in- 
surrectus, rise up: see insurgent.] It. A ris- 
ing up; uprising. 
He [an Impulsive man! lies open to every insurrection 
of 111 humour, and every Invasion of distress. 
//. Blair, Works, II. IL 
2. The act of rising against civil authority or 
governmental restraint; specifically, the armed 
resistance of a number of persons to the power 
of the state; incipient or limited rebellion. 
It l> found that this city of old time hath made insur- 
rection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have 
been made therein. Ezra fv. 10. 
In the autumn of 1806 his [Napoleon's) troops pene- 
trated Into Prussian Poland, where French agents had 
stirred up an insurrection, and In lhO7 the Russians, Prus- 
sia's only hope, were defeated at Fricdland. 
Woolsey, Introd. to Inter. Law, App. II., p. 403. 
It Is not the insurrections of Ignorance that are danger- 
ous, hut the revolts of intelligence. Lowell, Democracy. 
Whisky Insurrection or Rebellion, an outbreak In 
Pennsylvania in 1794 against the enforcement of an act of 
Congress of 1791 Imposing an excise duty on all spirits dis- 
tilled within the United States. A large body of militia 
was sent to the disturbed district, but the Insurrection 
was suppressed without bloodshed. =8yn. 2. Insurrection, 
Sedition, Rebellion, Recall, Mutiny, Riot. The first five 
words are distinguished from the last In that they express 
action directed against government or authority, while riot 
has this implication only incidentally if at all They ex- 
press actual and open resistance to authority, except *edi- 
tion, which may be secret or open, and often la only of * 
nature to lead to overt acts. An insurrection goes beyond 
sedition in that it is an actual rising against the government 
in discontent in resistance to a law, or the like. (See in- 
surgent, n.) Rebellion goes beyond insurrection In aim, be- 
ing an attempt actually to overthrow the government, while 
an insurrection seeks only some change of minor Impor- 
tance. A rebellion Is generally on a larger scale than an in- 
surrection. A remit has generally the same aim as a rebel- 
lion, but is on a smaller scale. A revolt may be against mill- 
tary government, but Is generally, like insurrection, sedi- 
tion, and rebellion, against civil government. A mutiny 
is organized resistance to law in an army or navy, or some- 
times a similar act by an individual. All these words 
have figurative uses. When literally used, only insur- 
rection and rerolt may be employed in a good sense. The 
success of a rebellion often dignifies it with the name of a 
revolution. A riot is generally a blind and unguided out- 
burst of fury, with violence to property and often to per- 
sons : as, the draft-riots in New York city in 1863. 
insurrectional (in-su-rek'shon-al), a. [= F. 
insiirrectionnel = Sp. insurreccional ; as insur- 
rection + -al.] Of or pertaining to insurrec- 
tion; consisting in insurrection. 
insurrectionary (in-su-rek'shon-a-ri), a. [< in- 
surrection + -<iry.] Of, pertaining to, or of the 
nature of insurrection ; favoring or engaged in 
insurrection : as, insurrectionary acts. 
The author writes that on their murderous inmrrec- 
tionary system their own lives are not sure for an hour, 
nor has their power a greater stability. 
Burke, A Regicide Peace, Iv. 
A proclamation was issued for closing the ports of the 
insurrectionary districts by proceedings In the nature of 
a blockade. Lincoln, in Raymond, p. 143. 
insurrectiqnert (in-su-rek'shon-er), . An in- 
surrectionist. [Rare.] 
What had the people got If the Parliament, Instead of 
guarding the Crown, had colleagned with Venner and 
other insurrectioners / Roger North, Examen, p. 418. 
insurrectionise, r. t. See insurrectioni:e. 
insurrectionist (in-su-rek'shon-ist), n. [< in- 
surrection + -ist.] One who favors, excites, or 
is engaged in insurrection ; an insurgent. 
It would tie the hands of Union men, and freely pass 
supplies from among them to the insurrectionists. 
Lincoln, in Raymond, p. 143. 
insurrectionize (in-su-rek'shon-iz), t>. t. ; pret. 
and pp. insurrectionizeii, ppr. "insttrrectionizing. 
[< insurrection + -ize.] To cause an insurrec- 
tion in. Also spelled insurrectionise. [Rare.] 
" The Western Powers." he [Bismarck] wrote, "are not 
capable of imurrectionisiny Poland." 
Loire, Bismarck, L 201. 
insusceptibility (in-su-sep-ti-bil'i-ti), n. [< 
insusceptible: see -bility.] The character or 
quality of being insusceptible; want of sus- 
ceptibility. 
The remarkable intutcejitHiility of our household ani- 
mals to cholera. Science, III. 567. 
insusceptible (in-sn-sep'ti-bl), a. [= F. I'K- 
suscfptible; as t'n-3 + susceptible.] Not suscep- 
tible, (a) Incapable of being moved or affected in some 
way or by something : with of. 
It is not altogether insutcepHble of mutation, but a 
friend to It Holland, tr. of Plutarch, p. 854. 
Who dares struggle with an Invisible combatant? . . . 
It acts, and Is intuxvptible of any reaction. 
Coleridge, quoted In Choate's Addresses, p. 10G. 
(6) Not liable to be moved or affected by something : with 
to. 
Venomous snakes are insusceptible to the venom of then- 
own species. The Academy, May 25. 188B, p. 363. 
insusceptive (in-su-sep'tiv), a. [< in-s + stu- 
cej/tire.] Insusceptible. [Rare.] 
