underwritev.1
/ˌʌndəˈrʌɪt/, /ˈʌndərʌɪt/, U.S. /ˈəndə(r)ˌraɪt/, /ˌəndə(r)ˈraɪt/ 1. † b. To write, subscribe, sign (one's name) below, or at the end of, a document, etc. Obsolete.† c. absol. To become surety. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To write (words, figures, etc.) below something, esp. after other written matter.
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society > communication > writing > written text > layout > [verb (transitive)] > below
underwritec1430
subscribe1534
undername1632
subscript1916
c1430 Art Nombryng 3 The nombre to be addede is that þat sholde be addede therto, and shalle be vnderwriten.
c1430 Art Nombryng 3 It is convenient that the lesse nombre be vnderwrit, and the more addede.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 310 Euphorbium prepared in manner as shalbe vnder written, purgeth..slymie flegmes.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xiv. 614/2 The said Author, obseruing the scope of those lines..doth vnderwrite and annex this Stanza.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. iii. 86 His business is to under-write answers to all Petitions.
1709 Tatler No. 74. ⁋11 Each Subscriber should underwrite his Reason for the Place he allots his Candidate.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison VI. xlix. 298 I will entreat her to vnderwrite her mind on this subject.
1882 Act 45 & 46 Vict. c. 61 Sched. 1 The bill..should be annexed, or a copy of the bill and all that is written thereon should be underwritten.
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society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > personal identification > signature > sign (a document) [verb (transitive)]
sign1442
assign1563
underwrite1569
subsign1572
undersign1580
paragraph1601
style1619
side-sign1708
signature1766
re-sign1805
autographize1822
autograph1833
1569 in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. lv. 566 That we, whose names are by ourselves underwritten, do acknowledge [etc.].
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. K Our behoofe will beare the greater sway When as a kings name shall be vnder writ.
1631 B. Jonson Divell is Asse iii. iii. 145 in Wks. II I haue enough on't! for an hundred pieces? Yes, for two hundred, vnder-write me, doe. Your man will take my bond?
1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 61 The Acceptant, when he accepts, must under~write his Name.
1793 E. Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) II. 493 When the subscription is proposed, I shall underwrite my name for, at least, six copies.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > give assurance or stand surety [verb (intransitive)]
to lay one's life, head, to wed971
to find (take) God, Mahoun, St. Blase, St. George, etc. to borrowa1330
again-behotea1382
to make (also do) faitha1382
pledge1458
to make (also give) warrantisea1535
undertake1548
subscribe1600
underwrite1623
seal1633
underwritea1657
hedge1676
vouch1687
to stand surety (or security)1776
to take warrant on oneself1828
stipulate1829
a1657 W. Higford Instit. or Advice to Grandson (1658) 17 For the most part the borrowers of money..are engaged one for another... Those that stand engaged for you; you must underwrite for them also.
a. To subscribe (a document) with one's name.
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1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xix. 711/1 A roll of parchment containing in writing certaine Articles Note in marg: An Act of Parliment passed to establish K. Richards election.
1623 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1618–21 (1908) 320 The agreement mad betwixt us was underwrytten and sealed.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. viii. 6 No importunity could prevail with him to underwrite this will.
1682 in London Gaz. No. 1782/1 One part thereof Signed by such Servant, and also Under-written or Endorsed with the Name and Hand-writing of such Magistrate.
1713 Guard. No. 39 I shall not retract any advertisement till I see those verses, and I'll choose what to believe then, except they are under~written by his nurse.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. liii. 200 A letter..signed by his Lordship,..and underwritten by myself.
b. spec. To subscribe (a policy of insurance) thereby accepting the risk of insurance. Also absol.
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society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > insure [verb (transitive)] > insurance policy operations
underwrite1622
adjust1720
load1867
sub-underwrite1895
claim1897
twist1906
insure1911
write1931
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 102 If one be bound, and two or more do put their hand and seale, and vnder-write, and seale the said Bill as Principals.
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 166 The custome..doth impose the losse vpon those Assurors which did first vnderwrite.
1703 London Gaz. No. 3940/4 Whosoever..hath underwritten any Policy of Insurance on the Ship Samuel.
1755 N. Magens Ess. Insurances I. 7 If this be declared when the Insurance is made, the Insurers..will never refuse to under~write.
1766 W. Gordon Gen. Counting-house 21 If you under~write a policy mentioning..the sum underwrote.
1812 W. Combe Tour Dr. Syntax xxv. 250 The Policies remain'd secure, Waiting for arms of signature; For what brave spirit, e'er would fight 'em, When nobody would underwrite 'em.
1876 F. Martin Hist. Lloyd's 365 Both non-underwriting members and annual subscribers are..forbidden to underwrite any policy of insurance.
c. absol. To carry on the business of insurance.
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1784 Ld. Macartney in Burke's Corr. (1844) III. 27 The impossibility of men's fairly acquiring great wealth, in a short time, who neither lend, trade, play, nor under-write.
3. † b. intransitive. To subscribe or agree to something.
a. To set one's name to, subscribe to (a decision, statement, etc.); to agree to or confirm by signature. Also figurative, to support or reinforce (an idea, quality, etc.); to lend support to (a party, etc.).
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society > law > legal document > [verb (transitive)] > subscribe to
subscribe1415
subscrive1445
underwrite1609
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [verb (transitive)]
lasteOE
i-hentc1225
uphold?c1225
upbeara1300
sustainc1300
understand13..
uplift1338
maintainc1350
supporta1393
underset1395
buttressc1400
supprise1447
bolster1508
stay1526
stay1526
undershore?a1534
underpropa1535
to hold up by the chin1546
back1548
suborn1548
suffult?c1550
upshore?1567
shoulder1577
upstay1600
underwrite1609
abone1622
crutch1641
float1823
backstop1956
the mind > language > statement > ratification or confirmation > confirm or ratify [verb (transitive)] > by signing one's name
subscribe1415
sign1579
underwrite1609
signature1766
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 127 Worthier then himselfe..vnder-write in an obseruing kinde, His humorous predominance. View more context for this quotation
1633 G. Herbert Church Porch in Temple xxiv Man is a shop of rules, a well-truss'd pack, Whose every parcell under-writes a law.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. lxxvii. 161 All the Assembly had already underwritten the reformation, when Thales put them in mind [etc.].
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 202 All which they took in Black and White, And cudgel'd me to under-write.
a1853 Mrs. Opie in Brightwell Life (1854) 49 I could, with a safe conscience, underwrite all that he there relates.
1938 Sun (Baltimore) 5 Sept. 6/3 This sectional purpose in the bill was in effect underwritten by the new Adminstrator.
1962 Listener 15 Mar. 480/1 The fact that Hirst was at the Royal College of Art..at the time of that journalistically stimulated style known as ‘New Realism’, to some extent underwrites this basic quality of factualness in his work.
1965 Listener 10 June 851/2 We must not always find ourselves underwriting the regimes of yesterday while our opponents support those of tomorrow.
1978 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 126 439/1 Their sponsors (usually governments) underwrote the belief that an exhibition's ultimate social and economic benefits would outweigh its immediate costs.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)] > agree to
underwrite1643
1643 F. Quarles Loyall Convert 16 In case Papists should largely under-write to your Propositions,..would you not accept it?
4. † a. To guarantee to subscribe or contribute (a certain sum of money, etc.). Obsolete.absolute.1680 R. L'Estrange Citt & Bumpkin 3 Masters underwrit for their Children, and Servants, Women for their Husbands.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > give assurance or stand surety [verb (intransitive)]
to lay one's life, head, to wed971
to find (take) God, Mahoun, St. Blase, St. George, etc. to borrowa1330
again-behotea1382
to make (also do) faitha1382
pledge1458
to make (also give) warrantisea1535
undertake1548
subscribe1600
underwrite1623
seal1633
underwritea1657
hedge1676
vouch1687
to stand surety (or security)1776
to take warrant on oneself1828
stipulate1829
1623 Heriot in Mem. (1822) App. iii. 72 All my stock and adventures in the East India Company,..wherein I did under~write one thousand pounds.
1642 Lanc. Tracts Civ. War (Chetham Soc.) 62 Such moneyes and plate as Mr. Thomas Case..shall underwrite for the defence of Lancashire.
1697 J. Pollexfen Disc. Trade & Coyn 99 The last Stock was under~writ by Vertue of a Charter granted Anno 1657.
1705 R. Beverley Hist. Virginia i. iv. 96 The Subscription-Money did not come in with the same Readiness, with which it had been underwritten.
b. spec. To agree to take up, in a new company or new issue (a certain number of shares if not applied for by the public).
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society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > deal in stocks and shares [verb (transitive)] > specific operations
subscribe1618
to take up1655
to sell out1721
to take in1721
to take up1740
pool?1780
capitalize1797
put1814
feed1818
to vote (the) stock (or shares)1819
corner1836
to sell short1852
promote1853
recapitalize1856
refund1857
float1865
water1865
margin1870
unload1870
acquire1877
maintain1881
syndicate1882
scalp1886
pyramid1888
underwrite1889
oversubscribe1891
joint-stock1894
wash1895
write1908
mark1911
split1927
marry1931
stag1935
unwind1958
short1959
preplace1966
unitize1970
bed and breakfast1974
index-link1974
warehouse1977
daisy-chain1979
strip1981
greenmail1984
pull1986
1889 Lindley Company Law 761 A promoter of a company who had agreed to underwrite 10,000 shares.
1897 Times Law Rep. 13 570/1 The Globe Company shall underwrite, or procure to be underwritten,..the first issue of 250,000 shares.
c. To support by a guarantee of funds. Also transferred, to guarantee by military or other power.
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society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > grants and allowances > support by payment [verb (transitive)] > by a guarantee of funds
underwrite1890
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > insure [verb (transitive)] > guarantee (an expense)
ensure1738
underwrite1890
the mind > language > speech > agreement > security > pledge or deposit as security [verb (transitive)] > be or give surety for > by military power, etc.
underwrite1964
1890 Spectator 22 Nov. Many of the usual holders of great sums of money have of late been ‘underwriting’ great industrial enterprises.
1964 Ann. Reg. 1963 224 A free West Berlin could have its social system underwritten by the United Nations, and foreign troops could remain there ‘for a certain period’ under the U.N. flag.
1979 T. Benn Arguments for Socialism ii. 50 Big business..underwrote the cost of the campaign to keep Britain in the Common Market at the time of the 1975 referendum.
a. To undertake or guarantee in writing to do something. Obsolete.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise, vow, or pledge [verb (intransitive)] > in writing
underwrite1621
1621 in W. Foster Eng. Factories India 1622–3 (1906) 346 The Ballochs..whoe underwrot to carry the last yeares caphila to Mando.
1642 Propos. conc. Rais. Horse, etc. 5 Whosoever..shall underwrite to furnish and maintain any number of Horse.
1644 J. Vicars Jehovah-jireh 163 Persons..who had..under-written to lend horse, and moneyes.
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the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > promise or vow [verb (transitive)] > guarantee
fast?a1160
pledge?a1439
assure1447
ensure1460
avouch1548
ratify1599
seal1628
underwrite1838
warrant1849
1838 J. C. Calhoun Wks. (1874) III. 237 Pass the bill, and I underwrite that we shall never have again to complain of a surplus.
Derivatives
ˈunderˌwriting adj.
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society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [adjective] > esp. business of insurance
underwriting1876
1876 F. Martin Hist. Lloyd's 364 All underwriting members pay..an entrance fee of £100.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
underwritev.2
/ˌʌndəˈrʌɪt/, /ˈʌndərʌɪt/, U.S. /ˌəndə(r)ˈraɪt/ rare.
1. transitive. To describe in too low an aspect.
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the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > misrepresentation > misrepresent [verb (transitive)] > by inadequate treatment
underwrite1724
underdraw1865
1724 Duke of Wharton True Briton No. 69. ¶13 Who, has under-wrote his Character, and represented him in faint and unbecoming Colors.
2. reflexive. To fall below (oneself) in writing.
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the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > misjudge [verb (reflexive)] > underestimate
underwrite1766
1766 Monthly Rev. 34 407 An author capable of so strangely under-writing himself.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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