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Underwrite

//ˈʌndəɹaɪt// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To write below or under; subscribe. transitive
  2. 2
    guarantee financial support of wordnet
  3. 3
    To subscribe (a document, policy etc.) with one's name. intransitive, obsolete, transitive
  4. 4
    protect by insurance wordnet
  5. 5
    To sign; to put one's name to. transitive
Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    To agree to pay by signing one's name; subscribe. transitive
  2. 7
    Specifically, to assume financial responsibility for something, and guarantee it against failure. transitive

    "Dr. Beeching's obvious intent is that if Scottish—and similarly unprofitable English and Welsh—railways are to be maintained, it must be done by an unconcealed subsidy; he is determined that the railways shall no longer be preoccupied with—and derided for—immense deficits which include the burden of social services the State must openly underwrite, if it wants them."

  3. 8
    To act as an underwriter. intransitive

    "The broker who procures the insurance […]ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony."

  4. 9
    To support, lend support to, guarantee the basis of. transitive
  5. 10
    To submit to; put up with. obsolete, transitive

    "Diſguiſe the holy ſtrength of their command: / And vnder write in an obſeruing kinde"

Etymology

From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (“to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe”). Compare Dutch onderschrijven (“to endorse”), German unterschreiben (“to sign; endorse”), Danish underskrive (“to sign; endorse”). By surface analysis, under- + write.

See also for "underwrite"

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