The Collaborative International Dictionary
Underwrite \Un`der*write"\, v. t. [imp. Underwrote, Obs. Underwrit; p. p. Underwritten, Obs. Underwrit; p. pr. & vb. n. Underwriting.]
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To write under something else; to subscribe.
What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten.
--Bp. Sanderson. -
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.The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony.
--Marshall.
Underwriting \Un"der*writ`ing\, n. The business of an underwriter,
Wiktionary
n. The act of something being underwritten financially. vb. (present participle of underwrite English)
Wikipedia
In insurance, underwriting is to sign and accept liability and guaranteeing payment in case damage or loss occurs. Underwriting is provided by a large financial service provider such as a bank, insurer or investment house.
The name derives from the Lloyd's of London insurance market. Financial bankers, who would accept some of the risk on a given venture (historically a sea voyage with associated risks of shipwreck) in exchange for a premium, would literally write their names under the risk information that was written on a Lloyd's slip created for this purpose.
Usage examples of "underwriting".
For some reason, I jotted down the fact that a company by the name of Fire and Jce Pharmaceuticals had expressed an interest in underwriting the Chastain expedition.
Fire and Ice Pharmaceuticals, the company that had committed to underwriting the Third Expedition through the University of Portland had gone bankrupt a few months after the expedition was supposedly canceled.
Chengtu Airport bond underwriting in China to be brought to market later this year?
The powerful firm traced its origin to the Civil War and the underwriting of bonds for the Union to support its effort in winning the conflict.
I could commit Chase to underwriting a billion dollars of bank debt, what would I get in return?
He had promised mightily after each orgasm that when he arrived at the office in the morning, the first thing he would do was sign the letter committing Chase to a billion-dollar underwriting for Broadway Ventures and fax it over to her at Walker Pryce.
Harry Conner went nuts for the idea, especially because ConMin would be underwriting the project.
It was the latest rage in macho-type clothes, and the underwriting helped pay for the mission.
Hugh was deeply glad he had forced Edward to sell the bonds on commission rather than underwriting them.
Set-asides were conceived to help local minority-owned firms compete with underwriting giants such as Merrill Lynch.
He had been a downtown party committeeman, and the proprietor of a vast insurance agency that enjoyed uncanny success in underwriting municipal agencies.
My gold is a hedge against underwriting the cost of bringing Krondorian soldiers to Crydee, both in expenses and bribes.