| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ verb
Etymology: Middle English underwriten, from under (I) + writen to write — more at write
transitive verb
1. : to write under or at the end of something else
2. : to write one's name under or set one's name to (an insurance policy) for the purpose of thereby becoming answerable for a designated loss or damage on consideration of receiving a premium percent : insure on life or property ; also : to assume (a sum or risk) by way of insurance
3. : to subscribe to : agree to : confirm
U.S. might tolerate, accept, permit a compromise in Indochina without fully underwriting it — Frank Gorrell
4.
a. : to agree to purchase (a security issue) on a fixed date at a fixed price with a view to public distribution
b. : to contract for the purchase of (securities) under an agreement to buy any portion of shares offered to a corporation's existing shareholders that remain unsold
underwrite a stock issue on a standby basis
c. : to put up funds for or guarantee financial support of
corporations have undertaken to underwrite a sizable proportion of the orchestras' deficits — Howard Taubman
5.
a. : to write in a manner inadequate to represent the real worth or importance of
underwrite his parts, lightly sketching the characters and counting on the actors to fill them in — W.S.Maugham
b. : to drop below (as a person or a standard) in quality of writing
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to give a guarantee or become surety
2. : to carry on the business of an underwriter