indemnify
English
WOTD – 11 September 2009
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɪnˈdɛm.nɪ.faɪ/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file)
Etymology 1
From indemn (“unhurt”) + -ify (forming verbs)[1]
Verb
indemnify (third-person singular simple present indemnifies, present participle indemnifying, simple past and past participle indemnified)
- 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.
- 1670, Sir William Temple, letter to Lord Arlington, in The Works of Sir William Temple, page 101:
- (chiefly law) To compensate or reimburse someone for some expense or injury.
- 1906, Civil Code of the State of California, 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.
- 1906, Civil Code of the State of California, page 405:
Derived terms
- indemnifiable
- indemnification
- indemnifier
Related terms
- indemnity
Translations
To save harmless; to secure against loss or damage; to insure
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To make restitution or compensation for
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See also
- endamnify
Etymology 2
From in- (“into”) + damnify (“to injure; to wrong”), assimilated to indemn and indemnify (“secure against loss; compensate, reimburse”).
Verb
indemnify (third-person singular simple present indemnifies, present participle indemnifying, simple past and past participle indemnified)
- (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. 63a
- He... did not belieue that his Maiestie by this occasion coulde any way be endemnified.
- 1593, Thomas Lodge, Life & Death of William Long Beard, E ij
- What harme the Rhodians haue doone thee, that thou so much indemnifiest them?
- 1583, Thomas Stocker's translation of A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, i. 63a
References
- Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "indemnify, v.1". Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1900.