subscribe, v.
(səbˈskraɪb)
Also 6 -ybe.
[ad. L. subscrībĕre, f. sub- sub- 2 + scrībĕre to write. Cf. subscrive.
From L. subscrībĕre are also It. soscrivere, Sp. su(b)scribir, Pg. subscrever; from L. type *subtusscrībĕre, OF. souzescrire, soubscrire, mod.F. souscrire, Pr. sotzescrivre, It. sottoscrivere.]
1. trans. To write (one's name or mark) on, orig. at the bottom of, a document, esp. as a witness or consenting party; to sign (one's name) to. Now rare.
| 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 297/2 In witnesse of whiche þing,..my said Lord of Glouc' hath subscribed his name with his owne hand. H. Gloucestr'. c 1510 More Picus Wks. 3/2 Which questions..not a few famous doctours..had approued..and subscribed their names vndre them. 1511 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. (1827) I. 182 That every gentilman answerer doo subscribe his name to the Articles. 1601 Chester Love's Mart. title-p., Seuerall moderne Writers, whose names are subscribed to their seuerall workes. 1643 Decl. Commons Reb. Irel. 49 The marke of Christopher Hassall is subscribed. 1676 Office Clerk of Assize B vij, Then must the Clerk of Assize direct the Cryer to call the Witnesses as they be subscribed to the Indictment. 1766 Blackstone Comm. II. 377 They must all subscribe their names as witnesses. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xvii, Vivaldi was ordered to subscribe his name and quality to the depositions. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxxvi, Subscribe your name in the record. [1891 Daily News 9 Feb. 5/5 Could a signature be said to be sub-scribed when, strictly speaking, it was supra⁓scribed?] |
b. To write, set down, or inscribe below or at the conclusion of something. Now rare.
| 1579 Digges Stratiot. i. iii. 3 Beginne your collection from the right hand to the lefte..& what Digit resulteth, subscribe. 1611 Coryat Crudities 56 A goodly statue..with an honourable Elogium subscribed vnderneath the same. 1657 J. Watts Scribe, Pharisee, etc. iii. 101, I shall take my leave, and subscribe a friendly farewel to you. 1709–29 V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. 17 The Remainer being subscribed under the line drawn. 1777 Ann. Reg., Chron. 239 His picture..with the words, ‘The Atheist Parson’, subscribed in capitals. 1860 Alb. Smith Med. Stud. (1861) 72 In the space left for the degree of attention which the student has shown, it is better that he subscribes nothing at all than an indifferent report. 1866 Masson tr. Winer's Gram. N.T. 59 In the earlier editions of the N.T. the Iota subscribed was too frequently introduced. |
† c. To put (a person) down for so much. Obs. rare.
| 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iv. 50 Blanke-charters, Whereto when they shall know what men are rich, They shall subscribe them for large summes of Gold. |
2. With compl.: a. refl. To put oneself down as so-and-so, at the foot of a letter or other document. Now rare.
| 1678 R. Russell tr. Geber Transl. Pref. 4, I here conclude subscribing myself..your real Friend. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 27 ¶7, I am almost asham'd to Subscribe my self Yours, T. D. 1780 Mirror No. 81 A lady who subscribed herself S. M. c 1820 in Corr. J. Sinclair (1831) II. 400 Allow me to..subscribe myself..your obedient, humble servant, J. R. Brancaleoni. 1827 Scott Chron. Canongate Introd., I beg leave to subscribe myself his obliged humble servant, Walter Scott. 1828 Darvill Race Horse I. Ded., He who has the honour to subscribe himself,..Your most obliged And very humble Servant, R. Darvill. |
† b. trans. To ‘write (one) down’ so-and-so. Obs. rare.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. ii. 59 Claudio vndergoes my challenge, and either I must shortly heare from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. |
3. To sign one's name to; to signify assent or adhesion to, by signing one's name; to attest by signing. (Cf. subscription 5.)
Formerly often to subscribe with one's (own) hand, to be subscribed with a name or names.
| 1440 Patent Roll 18 Hen. VI, iii, To thentente that these articles..should show of more record my true acquitail, I have subscribid them of my own hand. 1451 Rolls of Parlt. V. 218/1 That the seide Letters Patentes so subscribed with the names, be enrolled. c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 1685 With his hande I made hym to suscrybe A byll of recorde for an annuall rent. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love Brief Descr. iv, Their doctrine subscribed with his owne hand is this. 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Gov. Eng. ii. i. (1739) 6 He causeth the Judges to subscribe this Order, and so it becomes Law in repute. 1662 Act 14 Chas. II, c. 4 §6 Every..person in Holy Orders..shall..subscribe the Declaration..following scilicet. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xix. (1787) II. 128 The emperor was persuaded to subscribe the condemnation of..Gallus. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) VI. 69 He subscribed the will as a witness in the same room. 1843 Gladstone Glean. (1879) V. 38 On behalf of truth, we subscribe the protest against these preposterous impositions. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 171 Not content with requiring him to conform to their worship, and to subscribe their Covenant. 1888 Q. Rev. CLXVII. 209 At Oxford the matriculator subscribed the Thirty-nine Articles. |
| fig. 1847 De Quincey Sp. Mil. Nun viii. Wks. 1853 III. 17 Chance is but the pseudonyme of God for those particular cases which he does not choose to subscribe openly with his own sign manual. |
b. pass. (a) With a name or description: To be signed so-and-so. Now rare.
| 1640 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1692) iii. I. 114 Fourteen Letters subscribed, W. Cant. 1725 Lond. Gaz. No. 6349/1 A Letter subscribed W. Baker. 1780 Mirror No. 84 A letter subscribed Censor. |
† (b) pass. To be furnished with an inscription beneath. Obs. rare.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. ii. 33/2 An Escochion..Subscribed, Moneta Nova Ordin. Frisiæ. |
† 4. To give one's assent or adhesion to; to countenance, support, favour, sanction, concur in.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 12 Manye do subscribe, and myghtye nations maynteine the cause. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apoc. 15 They agree to the opinion of other men, and subscribe their sayings. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. iv. 89 Admit no other way to saue his life (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the losse of question). 1606 ― Tr. & Cr. ii. iii. 156 Aia... Doe you not thinke, he thinkes himselfe a better man then I am? Ag. No question. Aiax. Will you subscribe his thought, and say he is? 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxxvi. (1787) III. 494 Orestes..chose rather to encounter the rage of an armed multitude, than to subscribe the ruin of an innocent people. |
† 5. To sign away, yield up. Obs. rare.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear i. ii. 24 (Qo.) The King gone to night, subscribd [1st Fo. Prescrib'd] his power, confined to exhibition, all this donne. |
6. intr. To write one's signature; esp. to put one's signature to in token of assent, approval, or testimony; to sign one's name as a witness, etc. Also in indirect pass.
| 1535 Coverdale Isa. xliv. 5 The thirde shal subscrybe with his honde vnto y⊇ Lorde. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 140 This was the effect therof whereunto subscribed sixe and twenty Cardinalles. 1571 Act 13 Eliz. c. 12 §4 None..shalbe admitted to thorder of Deacon or Ministerie, unles he shall fyrst subscribe to the saide Artycles. 159. Sir T. More iv. ii. 74 [1235] His maiestie hath sent by me these articles..to be subscribed to. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. v. 14 Write to him, (I will subscribe) gentle adieu's, and greetings. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶11 They could not with good conscience subscribe to the Communion booke. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 104 In 1546 he proceeded in Divinity, having about that time subscribed to the 34 Articles. a 1722 Fountainhall Decis. (1759) I. 12 Unless there be two Notaries, and..he gave them command to subscribe for him. 1724 Swift Drapier's Lett. Wks. 1755 V. ii. 101 Many of those who subscribed against me. 1909 Engl. Hist. Rev. Apr. 242 Raignolds conformed, but in a vigorous..letter to Bancroft refused to subscribe. |
† b. With compl. Obs. rare.
| 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. F j, Perceaving..that he who would take Orders must subscribe slave, and take an oath withall. |
7. To give one's assent to a statement, opinion, proposal, scheme, or the like; to express one's agreement, concurrence, or acquiescence.
| 1549 Chaloner Erasm. Praise Folly C j, If ye all doo subscribe to this opinion. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 130 Aduise thee Aaron, what is to be done, And we will all subscribe to thy aduise. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. 362 The Thracians againe subscribe to none of these reports. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. ii. §3. 143 The Foundations of Religion are already established, and the principles of Salvation subscribed unto by all. 1675 Baxter Cath. Theol. ii. i. 121 What Jesuite or Arminian will not subscribe to this? Who doubteth of it? 1699 Bentley Phal. 67 Clement's Computation is subscribed to..by Cyril. 1710 Pope Let. 20 July, I do not expect you shou'd subscribe to my private notions. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 121 If they do not implicitly subscribe to his condemnation of other botanists. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 250 She enters into her scheme of economy..and..subscribes implicitly to her system of devotion. 1823 Scott Quentin D. Introd., I am contented to subscribe to the opinion of the best qualified judge of our time. 1877 Gladstone Glean. (1879) III. 207 That comparison..is not stated..in a manner to which I can subscribe. 1878 H. M. Stanley Dark Cont. II. xi. 315 They readily subscribed to all the requirements of friendship. |
b. To agree or be a party to a course of action or condition of things; to give approval, sanction, or countenance to; also occas. to consent or engage to; to agree that{ddd} Now rare or Obs.
| 1566 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 217 The Quene..wyll that all men that ar frends to anye of those that were previe to David deathe shall subscribe to pursue them... Some have subscribed, other have refused. a 1570 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 407 He having ben required..to consent and subscribe to thaccomptes and reckoninges of the Revelles. 1596 Lodge Wits Miserie 68 The nobility amongst the Iewes..would subscribe to no election or superioritie. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 401 A certaine Cardinall committed daily Adulterie with a mans wife, that winked and as it were subscribed vnto it. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 32 They..yeelded to subscribe, that..they would not receive any Scot into their dominions. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 182 So spake, so wish'd much humbl'd Eve, but Fate Subscrib'd not. 1783 W. Gordon tr. Livy's Rom. Hist. ii. xlv. (1809) 172 That the enemy should pass unpunished they could by no means subscribe to. 1825 Hazlitt Spirit of Age 173 The reverend divine might submit to the obligation, but he has no occasion to subscribe to the jest. 1844 Lingard Anglo-Saxon Ch. I. iii. 141 Shall..I..tamely subscribe to my own degradation? |
8. To give one's adhesion or allegiance, make one's submission to another; gen. to submit, yield, give in. Now rare or Obs.
| 1590 Greene Never too late (1600) 87 That he whom loue and errour did betray, Subscribes to thee [i.e. Reason]. 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 58 Subscribe not Hubert, giue not Gods part away. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. cvii, Death to me subscribes; Since spight of him Ile liue in this poore rime. 1606 ― Tr. & Cr. iv. v. 105 Hector in his blaze of wrath subscribes To tender obiects. 1631 Quarles Samson §7 Wks. (Grosart) II. 144/2 Passion replies, That feare and filiall duty Must serve affection, and subscribe to beauty. a 1652 Brome City Wit iv. i, As for Corantoes,..I speake it not swellingly, but I subscribe to no man. c 1665 Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846) 69, I cannot subscribe to those who entitle that king to the honour of the reformation. 1851 Hussey Papal Power ii. 76 Anatolius required the Illyrian Bishops to subscribe to him, that is, profess canonical obedience. |
† b. To submit or subject oneself to law or rule; to conform or defer to a person's will, etc. Obs.
| 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 81 Sir, to your pleasure humbly I subscribe. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 119 To subscribe and submit himselfe to all his Statutes and Lawes. 1642 J. M[arsh] Argt. conc. Militia 10 The will of the King ought to subscribe to the Law. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) II. 134, I would make a..narration to my child of all that had passed, but..would wholly subscribe to her pleasure. |
† c. To admit one's inferiority or error, confess oneself in the wrong. Obs. rare.
| 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 44 If I haue fewest, I subscribe in silence. 1593 ― 2 Hen. VI, iii. i. 38 Which feare, if better Reasons can supplant, I will subscribe, and say I wrong'd the Duke. |
9. Const. to: a. To admit or concede the force, validity, or truth of. Now rare or Obs.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 145, I..Plead a new state in thy vn-riual'd merit, To which I thus subscribe. 1753 Richardson Grandison I. xx, One to whose superior merit, and to whose good fortune, I can subscribe. 1771 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. I. Pref. p. vi, I must warmly subscribe to the learning..of Mr. Hume's history. 1838 Lytton Alice i. xii, They have confided to me all the reasons of your departure and I cannot but subscribe to their justice. |
† b. To make acknowledgement or admission of.
| 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 96 When I had subscrib'd To mine owne fortune, and inform'd her fully. |
† 10. To make an undertaking for, vouch or answer for a person. Obs.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 41 He..challeng'd Cupid at the Flight: and my Vnckles foole reading the Challenge, subscrib'd for Cupid. 1601 ― All's Well iii. vi. 89, I know th'art valiant, And to the possibility of thy souldiership, Will subscribe for thee. |
11. trans. To promise over one's signature to pay (a sum of money) for shares in an undertaking, or to or towards a particular object; to undertake to contribute (money) in support of any object. Also, to take up (shares); = subscribe for (see 12).
| 1640 Act 16 Chas. I, c. 37 §1 Diverse great summes of money have beene subscribed some part whereof is already paid in. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 27 Nov. 1657, The stock resolv'd on was 800,000l. I tooke the oath at the E. India House, subscribing 500l. Ibid. 7 July 1664, I subscribed to Sir Arthur Slingsby's lottery a desperate debt owing me long since. 1762 T. Mortimer Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5) 171 The sum each subscriber has subscribed. 1792 J. Almon Anecd. W. Pitt I. vii. 165 Pitt never subscribed one shilling into the funds. 1855 Ann. Reg., Chron. 117/2 Nearly 40,000,000l. was subscribed [for the new French loan]. 1863 Fawcett Pol. Econ. i. iv. 42 Indian railways have been constructed by loans subscribed almost entirely in England. 1871 Ann. Reg., Chron. 113 The large sum of 10,000l. was subscribed at once. 1891 Stutfield Rules Stock Exch. 121 Vendors' or contractors' shares issued as paid up are not ‘subscribed’. 1912 World 7 May 698/2 Over $300,000 was subscribed in Canada for ordinary shares. |
b. transf. To contribute.
| 1902 Daily Chron. 28 June 9/2 The English team were engaged in an up-hill task against the Colonials, who..subscribed the heavy score of 402. |
12. absol. or intr. To undertake to contribute money to a fund, to a society, party, etc.
| 1642 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1692) iii. I. 564 The Names of such Members of the Commons House of Parliament that Subscribed..for the speedy Reducing of the Rebels. 1701 Evelyn Diary 14 July, I subscrib'd towards rebuilding Oakwood Chapel. 1780 T. Mortimer Elem. Comm. 386 To give them a fresh contributive faculty to subscribe to new loans. 1781 Cowper Charity 467 Extravagance and av'rice shall subscribe. 1792 in Athenæum (1887) 5 Nov. 604/3 Will you have the Journal de Jacobins? I'll subscribe on your answer. 1837 Dickens Pickw. vii, I subscribe to the club here. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xlv, He..subscribed handsomely to the county charities. 1856 Hurlstone & Gordon Exch. Rep. XI. 715 Certain persons had subscribed to a steeple chase, to be run in the neighbourhood of Henley. 1876 ‘L. Carroll’ Hunting the Snark v. xxii, In charity-meetings it stands at the door, And collects—though it does not subscribe. |
b. to subscribe for: to put one's name down as a purchaser of shares, a periodical, newspaper, or book, etc.
| 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Sept., The maids of honour..are teazing others to subscribe for the book. 1749 J. Wood Descr. Bath (ed. 2) II. 445, I am well satisfied as many fifty Pound Tickets..would have been Subscribed for. 1829 Lipscomb Buckingham Prospectus, Subscribers are..requested to transmit their names..through Messrs. Longman and Co..., by whom the respective Parts will be issued in the order subscribed for. 1890 Sprigge Meth. Publ. 19 When the libraries have subscribed for their copies. 1891 Stutfield Rules Stock Exch. 106 The loan may be subscribed for in amounts of {pstlg}100. |
13. Book-trade. † a. trans. To issue (a book) to subscribers. Obs.
| 1701 Advt. in De Royaumont's Hist. O. & N. Test., The Book will be Subscribed at one Pound in Quires. One Half down the other for Delivery, a 7th book gratis. |
b. Of a bookseller: To agree beforehand to take (a certain number of copies of a book); also subscribe for. Also occas. intr. Of a book: To be taken by the trade.
| 1867 Spedding Publ. & Authors 37, I suppose that copies which are ‘subscribed for’ at the trade-sales are really sold to the subscribers at that rate of discount. 1873 Curwen Hist. Booksellers 428 Of Mr. Disraeli's ‘Lothair’ 1500 copies were at first subscribed. 1887 Athenæum 25 June 833/1 The London trade have subscribed for 10,000 copies, which is said to be the largest number ever subscribed for a six-shilling novel. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Conf. Publisher xii. 87 Dayley's book ‘Memory’ came out. On the whole, it subscribed very well. |
c. Of a publisher: To offer (a book) to the trade.
| 1910 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 11) IV. 234/2 At one of these establishments over 1,000,000 books are kept in stock. It is here that the publisher calls first on showing or ‘subscribing’ a new book, a critical process, for by the number thus subscribed the fate of a book is sometimes determined. 1913 Early Life Mk. Rutherford 83 My occupation now [185.] was to write Chapman's letters,..and, most disagreeable, to ‘subscribe’ his publications, that is to say, to call on booksellers and ask how many copies they would take. |
¶ A sense ‘to publish by subscription’ is given by some Dicts., but is not recognized by the trade.