I. transitive verb
or in·dorse ə̇nˈdȯ(ə)rs, en-, -ȯ(ə)s
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: endorse alteration (influenced by indorse ) of endoss, from Middle English endosen, from Middle French endosser, from Old French, to put on one's back, from en- (I) + dos back, from Latin dorsum; indorse from Middle English indorsen, from Medieval Latin indorsare, from Latin in in, on + Medieval Latin -dorsare (from Latin dorsum back)
1.
a. : to write on the back of (a commercial document): as
(1) : to sign one's name as payee on the back of (a check) in order to obtain the cash or credit represented on the face
(2) : to register payments of interest on (as a note or bill) by writing the amounts on the back with the signature of the one receiving the payment
b. : to inscribe (one's signature) on a check, bill, note, or other commercial document : sign
he endorsed his name on the check
c. : to inscribe (as an official document) with a title, direction, memorandum, or explanation
mail not delivered at the original address must be endorsed to show the next address — Postal Term Glossary
specifically : to write an endorsement on (a letter) in military communication
d. : to make over to another (the value represented in a check, bill, or note) by inscribing one's name on the document sometimes with specific directions for transfer
e. : to acknowledge receipt of (all or part of a sum specified in a note or bill) by one's signature on the document with proper notation
2. obsolete : to load upon the back
3. : to express definite approval or acceptance of
endorsed happiness, parenthood, and babies — Jack Gould
: support or aid explicitly by or as if by signed statement : vouch for : underwrite
a lot of people will endorse a good idea, but … few will fight for it — Owen Lattimore
all of these measures had been endorsed by the governor — G.C.Wright
Synonyms: see approve
•
- endorse in blank
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps from endorse (I)
heraldry : a cotise paralleling a pale