alarm vs assurance

alarm

noun
  • An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time. 

  • A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention. 

  • A sudden attack; disturbance. 

  • Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. 

  • A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. 

  • Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise. 

verb
  • To give (someone) notice of approaching danger 

  • To rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert. 

  • To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. 

  • To call to arms for defense 

  • To keep in excitement; to disturb. 

assurance

noun
  • Subjective certainty of one's salvation. 

  • The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full confidence; something designed to give confidence. 

  • Firmness of mind; undoubting steadiness; intrepidity; courage; confidence; self-reliance. 

  • Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a certain event, as loss or death. Assurance is used 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. 

  • The state of being assured; total confidence or trust; a lack of doubt; certainty. 

  • Excessive boldness; impudence; audacity 

  • Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of property; a conveyance; a deed. 

How often have the words alarm and assurance occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )