Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Indemnify \In*dem"ni*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indemnified; p. pr. & vb. n. Indemnifying.] [L. indemnis unhurt (in- not + damnum hurt, damage) + -fy. Cf. Damn, Damnify.]
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To save harmless; to secure against loss or damage; to insure.
The states must at last engage to the merchants here that they will indemnify them from all that shall fall out.
--Sir W. Temple. To make restitution or compensation for, as for that which is lost; to make whole; to reimburse; to compensate.
--Beattie.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"compensate for loss or expense," 1610s, from Latin indemnis "unhurt" (see indemnity) + -fy. Related: Indemnified; indemnifying.
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 vb. 1 To secure against loss or damage; to insure. 2 (senseid en To make restitution or compensation for)(context chiefly legal English) To compensate or reimburse someone for some expense or injury Etymology 2
vb. (context obsolete rare English) to hurt, to harm
WordNet
v. secure against future loss, damage, or liability; give security for; "This plan indemnifies workers against wages lost through illness"
make amends for; pay compensation for; "One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich"; "She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident" [syn: compensate, recompense, repair]
[also: indemnified]
Usage examples of "indemnify".
The Clockmaker was evidently excited by his own story, and to indemnify himself for these remarks on his countrymen, he indulged for some time in ridiculing the Nova Scotians.
James Hansard and others, for the publication by them, under an order of this house, of certain papers containing libellous matter upon John Joseph Stockdale, and that judgment has been obtained, and execution issued by due course of law against the said James Hansard and others in such action: it is expedient that the said James Hansard and others be indemnified against all costs and damages by them sustained in respect of such action.
Perhaps, too, her goodness of heart and politeness told her what a trial it was to look at her face, and she wished to indemnify the man who disguised his feelings of repugnance by shewing him what gifts nature had given her.
In a successful libel action, the author, printer, and publisher are joint tortfeasors, and none of them can indemnify the other.
Doctor replied, hardly consenting to let go the man he had found to indemnify him for his gallant service of acquiescing as a mute to the ladies, though he knew his breathing robustfulness to be as an East wind to weak nerves, and himself an engine of punishment when he had been torn for a day from his books.
The sprite of contrariety mounted to her brain to indemnify her for her recent self-abasement.
Make sure you're indemnified, sweetheart, and have your lawyer explain the fine print.
On the other hand, as they are obliged to indemnify the butchers and bakers, Toulon, for instance, incurs a debt of 2,500 livres a day.
The contract that his mother had signed indemnified the company against certain situations in which it could no longer keep its clients frozen, and bankruptcy was one of those situations.
The lender indemnifies himself for the danger he undergoes of suffering the penalty.
Through the same delicacy as our own she did not avail herself of the facility offered to her of indemnifying her creditors with assignats.
You want me to sign something indemnifying the authorities in case I scratch myself?
Albert, however, hoped to indemnify himself for all these slights and indifferences during the Carnival, knowing full well that among the different states and kingdoms in which this festivity is celebrated, Rome is the spot where even the wisest and gravest throw off the usual rigidity of their lives, and deign to mingle in the follies of this time of liberty and relaxation.