D defs.my
Entry 3 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Underwrite

/ŭn'-dẽrr-ītˌ/ · Un·der·write · IPA /ˈʌndəɹaɪt/
01 v. t. To write under something else; to subscribe.
imp. Underwrote; p. p. Underwritten; p. pr. & vb. n. Underwriting
  1. 1.
    To write under something else; to subscribe.[Obs.]
    “What addition and change I have made I have here underwritten.” — Bp. Sanderson.
  2. 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.
02 v. i. To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.
  1. 1.
    To practice the business of insuring; to take a risk of insurance on a vessel or the like.