transitive verb underwrote -·wrote′, underwritten -·writ′·ten, underwriting -·writ′·ing

1. Archaic to write under something, esp. under something written; subscribe
2. to agree to buy (an issue of stocks, bonds, etc.) on a given date and at a fixed price, or to guarantee the purchase of (stocks or bonds to be made available to the public for subscription)
3. to subscribe or agree to, as by signature
4. to agree to pay for the cost of or pledge to cover the financial losses of (an undertaking, etc.)
5. Insurance
   1. to write one's signature at the end of (an insurance policy), thus assuming liability in the event of specified loss or damage
   2. to insure
   3. to assume liability to the amount of (a specified sum)

Etymology: ME underwriten, orig. used as transl. of L subscribere: see subscribe

intransitive verb

1. to underwrite something
2. to be in business as an underwriter