Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

Source : WordNet®

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