• Indemnify

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /ɪnˈdÉ›m.nɪ.faɪ/

    Origin 1

    From indemn ("unhurt") + -ify (forming verbs)

    Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "indemnify, v.

    1

    ". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1900.

    Full definition of indemnify

    Verb

    1. To secure against loss or damage; to insure.
      • 1670, Sir William Temple, letter to Lord Arlington, in The Works of Sir William Temple, page 101:The states must at last engage to the merchants here that they will indemnify them from all that shall fall out.
    2. (To make restitution or compensation for)(chiefly legal) To compensate or reimburse someone for some expense or injury
    , page 405:
      • The lender of a thing for use must indemnify the borrower for damage caused by defects or vices in it, which he knew at the time of lending, and concealed from the borrower.

    Related terms

    Origin 2

    From in- ("into") + damnify ("to injure; to wrong"), assimilated to indemn and indemnify

    Verb

    1. (obsolete, rare) to hurt, to harm
      • 1583, Thomas Stocker's translation of A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, i. 63aHe... did not belieue that his Maiestie by this occasion coulde any way be endemnified.
      • 1593, Thomas Lodge, Life & Death of William Long Beard, E ijWhat harme the Rhodians haue doone thee, that thou so much indemnifiest them?
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