underwrite

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: un=der=write

CIDE DICTIONARY

underwrite, v. t. 

•  To write under something else; to subscribe.  [1913 Webster]

  "What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten."  [1913 Webster]
•  To subscribe one's name to for insurance, especially for marine insurance; to write one's name under, or set one's name to, as a policy of insurance, for the purpose of becoming answerable for loss or damage, on consideration of receiving a certain premium per cent; as, individuals, as well as companies, may underwrite policies of insurance.  B. Jonson.  [1913 Webster]

  "The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony."  [1913 Webster]

underwrite, v. i. 

 To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

underwrite, v. (past -wrote; past part. -written)
1 a tr. sign, and accept liability under (an insurance policy, esp. on shipping etc.). b tr. accept (liability) in this way. c intr. practice (marine) insurance.
2 tr. undertake to finance or support.
3 tr. engage to buy all the stock in (a company etc.) not bought by the public.
4 tr. write below (the underwritten names).

Derivative

underwriter n.

THESAURUS

underwrite

OK, accede to, accept, accredit, affirm, agree to, amen, approve, arm, armor, assure, attest, authenticate, authorize, autograph, avouch, back, back up, be sponsor for, bless, bond, certify, champion, cloak, compass about, confirm, consent to, copyright, cosign, countersecure, countersign, cover, cushion, defend, endorse, ensure, fence, fend, finance, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, guarantee, guaranty, guard, harbor, haven, indorse, initial, insure, invest in, keep, keep from harm, make a promise, make safe, nestle, notarize, okay, pass, pass on, pass upon, patent, permit, pledge, plight, police, promise, protect, ratify, register, ride shotgun for, rubber stamp, safeguard, sanction, say amen to, screen, seal, second, secure, shelter, shield, shroud, sign, sign and seal, sign for, sponsor, stand behind, stand up for, subscribe to, subsidize, subvene, support, swear, swear and affirm, swear to, troth, undersign, uphold, validate, visa, vise, vouch, vow, warrant

ROGET THESAURUS

underwrite

Promise

VB promise, give a promise, undertake, engage, make an engagement, form an engagement, enter into an engagement, enter on an engagement, bind oneself, tie oneself, pledge oneself, commit oneself, take upon oneself, vow, swear, give one's word, pass one's word, pledge one's word, plight one's word, give one's honor, pass one's honor, pledge one's honor, plight one's honor, give credit, pass credit, pledge credit, plight credit, give troth, pass troth, pledge troth, plight troth, betroth, plight faith, assure, warrant, guarantee, covenant, attest, hold out an expectation, contract an obligation, become bound to, become sponsor for, answer for, be answerable for, secure, give security, underwrite, adjure, administer an oath, put to one's oath, swear a witness.

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.

Security

VB give security, give bail, give substantial bail, go bail, pawn, impawn, spout, mortgage, hypothecate, impignorate, guarantee, warrant, warrantee, assure, accept, indorse, underwrite, insure, cosign, countersign, sponsor, cosponsor, execute, stamp, sign, seal, let, sett, grant a lease, take a lease, hold a lease, hold in pledge, lend on security.