endorse

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   sign as evidence of legal transfer

   endorse cheques

2. 2
   verb

   To express support or approval, especially officially or publicly; to give an endorsement.

   The president endorsed John Smith as senator.

3. 3
   verb

   To add penalty points to one's driving licence as a result of a road traffic offence.

   The court endorsed his driving record with three penalty points for the drink-driving.

4. 4
   verb

   guarantee as meeting a certain standard

5. 5
   verb

   be behind

6. 6
   verb

   give support or one's approval to

7. 7
   verb

   To write one's signature on the back of a cheque, or other negotiable instrument, when transferring it to a third party, or cashing it.

8. 8
   verb

   To report (a symptom); to describe.

Etymology

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.