Underwrite /(?)/

Un·der·write

Underwrite

v. t.

imp. Underwrote; p. p. Underwritten; p. pr. & vb. n. Underwriting

  1. To write under something else; to subscribe. [Obs.]
    What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten.
    — Bp. Sanderson.
  2. 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.
    The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony.
    — Marshall.

Underwrite

v. i.
  1. To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.