endorse
v.v. to say publicly that you support a person, a product, or an idea. You often see this when a famous person recommends a brand or a politician supports a new law.
v. to express formal or public approval and support for a person, policy, or product. In a legal or financial context, it refers to signing a document or cheque to make it valid or to transfer ownership.
The famous athlete decided to endorse the new sports drink.
Several major labor unions have already moved to endorse the candidate ahead of the primary election.
While the committee may endorse the general principles of the proposal, they remain hesitant to approve the specific funding mechanisms outlined in the final chapter.
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.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. In financial contexts, it specifically refers to signing the back of a negotiable instrument.