endorse

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To publicly say you support or approve of someone or something.

   The newspaper endorsed the candidate ahead of the election.

2. 2
   verb

   To officially recommend a product or service, often in advertising.

   A famous footballer was paid to endorse the new running shoes.

3. 3
   verb

   To sign your name on the back of a cheque so it can be paid or transferred.

   You must endorse the cheque before you can deposit it.

Alteration influenced by Medieval Latin indorsare of Middle English endosse, from Old French endosser (“to put on the back”), from Latin dossum, alternative form of dorsum (“back”), from which also dorsal (“of the back”). That is, the ‘r’ was dropped in Latin dossum, which developed into Old French and then Middle English endosse, and then the ‘r’ was re-introduced into English via the Medieval Latin indorsare, which had retained the ‘r’. Note that the alternative spelling indorse also uses the initial ‘i’ from Latin (in-, rather than en-), but this form is now rare.

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