enure

Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To take effect or be applicable: In legal contexts, "enure" means to become operative or to result in a certain outcome.
   • To serve to the benefit or advantage of someone: "enure" can also mean to bring about a beneficial result for someone.

2. Verb (transitive, less common):

   • To accustom or harden: This is an older, less frequent meaning, synonymous with "inure," meaning to make someone accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive (legal):

  • The new law will enure to the benefit of all citizens. (The law will take effect and bring advantages to everyone.)
  • The property rights enure to the heirs after the owner's death. (The rights become effective for the heirs.)

• Transitive (rare):

  • The harsh winter weather enured the soldiers to discomfort. (The soldiers became hardened to the discomfort.)

Advanced Usage

• "to enure to one's benefit": to result in a positive outcome for someone.

  • The settlement will enure to the benefit of the plaintiffs. (The settlement will advantage the plaintiffs.)

• "to enure to the detriment of": to result in a negative outcome for someone.

  • The policy change may enure to the detriment of small businesses. (The change may harm small businesses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Inure (verb): the more common spelling and meaning, especially "to become accustomed."
  • After years of manual labor, he was inured to physical pain. (He was hardened to pain.)

Synonyms

• Take effect: to become operative.
• Benefit: to provide an advantage.
• Accustom: to make familiar through experience.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms for "enure." It is primarily a formal or legal term.