喜樂美語

核心畫面

You can picture a page with a promise written on it, and a name signed underneath. The name at the bottom is what holds the page up. If what is written above falls through, the one who signed below catches it. Every use of underwrite keeps that shape: someone stands under something and takes its weight, whether the weight is money, a risk, or a whole agreement.

可以想成一張紙，上面寫著一個承諾，而有人把名字簽在最下面。撐住這張紙的，就是最底下那個名字。上面的事情垮了，簽在下面…更多收起可以想成一張紙，上面寫著一個承諾，而有人把名字簽在最下面。撐住這張紙的，就是最底下那個名字。上面的事情垮了，簽在下面的人就接住。underwrite 的每一個意思都保留這個形狀：有人站在下面，扛住上面的重量。有時扛的是錢，有時扛的是風險，有時扛的是一整份協議。

From the word’s history

The Wiktionary evidence in this packet traces underwrite to Middle English underwriten and Old English underwrītan, 'to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe', and notes the surface analysis under- + write. The modern meanings all grow from signing your name beneath something.

資料裡的字源說 underwrite 來自中古英文 underwriten、古英文 underwrītan，意思是「寫在下面、簽在下面」，並指出它就是 under- 加 write。今天所有的意思，都可以看成從「把名字簽在下面」長出來的。

Wiktionary extract supplied in this packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:216133875:9867): 'From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe). By surface analysis, under- + write.'

Three branches

用錢在下面撐住一件事

這是最接近核心畫面的用法：簽在下面的人，實際掏出錢來扛。

verb · C1

To promise the money that a plan, an event, or a business needs, and to agree that if it loses money or fails, you carry that loss yourself.

出資擔保

把別人的風險接過來（保險與承銷）

同樣是簽在下面，只是被扛住的東西變成別人的風險，而且這件事本身成了一門專業。

verb · C1

When an insurance company underwrites a policy or a risk, it agrees to take that risk on: it studies how likely the loss is, sets the price, and promises to pay if the damage or loss happens.

承保

撐住一個想法或一份協議

這一支把錢拿掉，只留下「在下面撐著」的動作，反而最貼近字面。

verb · C2

To be the thing that holds something else up and keeps it working — an idea, a promise, or an agreement that the rest of it rests on.

支撐；作為基礎

原始詞典資料8 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

underwriteverb/ˈʌndəɹaɪt/

  • 1

    To write below or under; subscribe.

  • 2

    obsoleteTo subscribe (a document, policy etc.) with one's name.

  • 3

    To sign; to put one's name to.

  • 4

    To agree to pay by signing one's name; subscribe.

  • 5

    Specifically, to assume financial responsibility for something, and guarantee it against failure.

    • Dr. Beeching's obvious intent is that if Scottish—and similarly unprofitable English and Welsh—railways are to be maintained, it must be done by an unconcealed subsidy; he is determined that the railways shall no longer be preoccupied with—and derided for—immense deficits which include the burden of social services the State must openly underwrite, if it wants them.
  • 6

    businessinsuranceTo act as an underwriter.

    • The broker who procures the insurance […]ought not, by underwriting the policy, to deprive the parties of his unbiased testimony.
  • 7

    To support, lend support to, guarantee the basis of.

  • 8

    obsoleteTo submit to; put up with.

    • Diſguiſe the holy ſtrength of their command: / And vnder write in an obſeruing kinde

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。