Etymology : Middle English, from Latin subscribere, literally, to write beneath, from sub- + scribere to write; more at SCRIBE
Pronunciation : s&b-skrIb
Function : verb
Date : 15th century
1. purchase a subscription (to a magazine, concert hall, etc.); endorse, sign; donate, contribute; promise, pledge; support, approve. (Computers) sign up, inform a newsgroup program that a user wants to regularly read a certain newsgroup; inform a mailing list server that a user wants to read a certain group. subscribe\sub*scribe"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. subscribed ; p. pr. & vb. n. subscribing.] [l. subscribere, subscriptum; sub under + scribere to write: cf. f. souscrire. see:
scribe.].
2. to write underneath, as one's name; to sign (one's name) to a document. [they] subscribed their names under them. t. more.
3. 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.
4. to attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records.
5. to promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars.
6. to sign away; to yield; to surrender. [obs.].
7. to declare over one's signature; to publish. [obs.] either or must shortly hear from him, or i will subscribe him a coward.subscribe \sub*scribe"\, v. i.
8. to sign one's name to a letter or other document.
9. 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.
10. to become surely; -- with for. [r.].
11. to yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong. [obs.] i will subscribe, and say i wronged the duke.
12. to set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum.
13. to enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc.subscribe v.
14. off to buy, as of stocks and shares: "the broker subscribed 500 shares".
15. mark with one's signature; write one's name (on); "she signed the letter and sent it off"; "please sign here" [syn: sign].
16. adopt as a belief; "i subscribe to your view on abortion" [syn: support].
17. receive or obtain by regular payment; "we take the times every day" [syn: subscribe to, take].
18. To write underneath, as one's name; to sign to a document.
19. 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.
20. To attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records.
21. To promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars.
22. To sign away; to yield; to surrender.
23. To declare over one's signature; to publish.
24. To sign one's name to a letter or other document.
25. To give consent to something written, by signing one's name; hence, to assent; to agree.
26. To become surely; with for.
27. To yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong.
28. To set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum.
29. To enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc. adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion" receive or obtain by regular payment; "We take the Times every day" offer to buy, as of stocks and shares; "The broker subscribed 500 shares".
30. 1. If you subscribe to an opinion or belief, you are one of a number of people who have this opinion or belief. I've personally never subscribed to the view that either sex is superior to the other.
31. If you subscribe to a magazine or a newspaper, you pay to receive copies of it regularly. My main reason for subscribing to New Scientist is to keep abreast of advances in science.
32. If you subscribe to an online newsgroup or service, you send a message saying that you wish to receive it or belong to it. Usenet is a collection of discussion groups, known as newsgroups, to which anybody can subscribe.
33. If you subscribe for shares in a company, you apply to buy shares in that company. Employees subscribed for far more shares than were available.