Word Direct Answers

What does "subscribe" mean?

Subscribe: To sign with one's own hand; to give consent to, as something written, or to bind one's self to the terms of, by writing one's name beneath; as, parties subscribe a covenant or contract; a man subscribes a bond. All the bishops subscribed the sentence. Milman.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records.
  2. 3.To promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars.
  3. 4.To sign away; to yield; to surrender. [Obs.] Shak.
  4. 5.To declare over one's signature; to publish. [Obs.] Either or must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. Shak.
  5. 6.To sign one's name to a letter or other document. Shak.
  6. 7.To give consent to something written, by signing one's name; hence, to assent; to agree. So spake, so wished, much humbled Eve; but Fate Subscribed not. Milton.
  7. 8.To become surely; -- with for. [R.] Shak.
  8. 9.To yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong. [Obs.] I will subscribe, and say I wronged the duke. Shak.
  9. 10.To set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum.
  10. 11.To enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc.

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