reserve

(re-zun/) [L. re-, back, servare, to keep.] In life insurance, the funds devoted to the payment of death claims, being the receipts from the net premiums with the interest earned thereon. ini'tial r., the r. at the beginning of a policy year, being the terminal r. of the previous year plus the net premium for the new year, term'inal r., the balance of the insurance fund, or reserve, at the end of the policy year after deducting the amount paid in death claims.