subscribe

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: sub=scribe

CIDE DICTIONARY

subscribe, v. t. [L. subscribere, subscriptum; sub under + scribere to write: cf. F. souscrire. See Scribe.].

•  To write underneath, as one's name; to sign (one's name) to a document.  [1913 Webster]

  "[They] subscribed their names under them."  [1913 Webster]
•  To sign with one's own hand; to give consent to, as something written, or to bind one's self to the terms of, by writing one's name beneath; as, parties subscribe a covenant or contract; a man subscribes a bond.  [1913 Webster]

  "All the bishops subscribed the sentence."  [1913 Webster]
•  To attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records.  [1913 Webster]
•  To promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars.  [1913 Webster]
•  To sign away; to yield; to surrender.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To declare over one's signature; to publish.  [1913 Webster]

  "Either or must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward."  [1913 Webster]

subscribe, v. i. 

•  To sign one's name to a letter or other document.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To give consent to something written, by signing one's name; hence, to assent; to agree.  [1913 Webster]

  "So spake, so wished, much humbled Eve; but Fate
  Subscribed not."  [1913 Webster]
•  To become surely; -- with for.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will subscribe, and say I wronged the duke."  [1913 Webster]
•  To set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum.  [1913 Webster]
•  To enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

subscribe, v.
1 (usu. foll. by to, for) a tr. & intr. contribute (a specified sum) or make or promise a contribution to a fund, project, charity, etc., esp. regularly. b intr. enter one's name in a list of contributors to a charity etc. c tr. raise or guarantee raising (a sum) by so subscribing.
2 intr. (usu. foll. by to) express one's agreement with an opinion, resolution, etc. (cannot subscribe to that).
3 tr. a write (esp. one's name) at the foot of a document etc. (subscribed a motto). b write one's name at the foot of, sign (a document, picture, etc.).

Idiom

subscribe for agree to take a copy or copies of (a book) before publication. subscribe oneself sign one's name as. subscribe to arrange to receive (a periodical etc.) regularly.

Etymology

ME f. L subscribere (as SUB-, scribere script- write)

THESAURUS

subscribe

abet, accede, accept, acquiesce, advocate, agree, agree to, agree with, aid and abet, allow, approve, approve of, assent to, autograph, back up, be a member, be inscribed, belong, brook, carry a card, chip in, come through, comfort, condone, consent, consent to, contribute, contribute to, countenance, donate to, embolden, encourage, endorse, favor, gift, gift with, give to, go for, hearten, hold membership, ink, keep in countenance, kick in, permit, pitch in, pledge, promise, sanction, shine upon, sign up for, signature, smile upon, subscribe to, support, sweeten the kitty, tolerate, underwrite, yes

ROGET THESAURUS

subscribe

Compact

VB contract, covenant, agree for, engage, treat, negotiate, stipulate, make terms, bargain, make a bargain, strike a bargain, come to terms, come to an understanding, compromise, set at rest, close, close with, conclude, complete, settle, confirm, ratify, clench, subscribe, underwrite, endorse, indorse, put the seal to, sign, seal, indent, take one at one's word, bargain by inch of candle.

Giving

VB deliver, hand, pass, put into the hands of, hand over, make over, deliver over, pass over, turn over, assign dower, present, give away, dispense, dispose of, give out, deal out, dole out, mete out, fork out, squeeze out, pay, render, impart, communicate, concede, cede, yield, part with, shed, cast, spend, give, bestow, confer, grant, accord, award, assign, intrust, consign, vest in, make a present, allow, contribute, subscribe, furnish its quota, invest, endow, settle upon, bequeath, leave, devise, furnish, supply, help, administer to, afford, spare, accommodate with, indulge with, favor with, shower down upon, lavish, pour on, thrust upon, tip, bribe, tickle the palm, grease the palm, offer, sacrifice, immolate.

Expenditure

VB expend, spend, run through, get through, pay, disburse, ante, ante up, pony up, open the purse strings, loose the purse strings, untie the purse strings, lay out, shell out, fork out, fork over, bleed, make up a sum, invest, sink money, run up debts, run up bills (debt), fee, pay one's way, subscribe, subsidize.