[f. SUBSCRIBE v. + -ER1.]
1. One who subscribes, or affixes his signature to, a letter or document, articles of religion, etc.
For spec. use in the history of Irish Presbyterianism, cf. NON-SUBSCRIBER 1 (b).
1599, 1650. [see NON-SUBSCRIBER 1].
1651. J. Drew (title), The Northern Subscribers plea vindicated from the exceptions laid against it by the non-subscribing Ministers of Lancashire and Cheshire.
c. 1688. in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 338. The Petition being finished, all the subscribers … went over to Whitehall to deliver it to the King.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 16 June 1687. It was reported the subscribers [to an Address] were above 1000.
1717. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 335. The subscribers of that choice and invitation of a minister.
1789. Madison, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), IV. 294. The letter was written by the first subscriber of it.
1886. Law Rep., 31 Chanc. Div. 223. A minority of the subscribers of the memorandum of association.
1912. W. B. Selbie, Nonconformity, ix. 162–3. When at a further meeting an attempt was made to obtain the assent of those present to a declaration of belief in the Doctrines of the Trinity and of the Divinity of our Lord, the company at once divided into subscribers and non-subscribers.
b. transf. One who assents.
1851. Thackeray, Engl. Hum., v. (1853), 222. It was as undoubting subscribers to this moral law, that Fielding wrote and Hogarth painted.
2. One who subscribes to a specified object or institution, the funds of a company, etc., for shares, a book, etc.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, Ded. e j b. Some of my Subscribers grew so clamorous, that I cou’d no longer deferr the Publication.
1721. Swift, South Sea, Wks. 1755, III. II. 134. Each poor subscriber to the sea sinks down at once. Ibid. (1727), What passed in Lond., Ibid. I. 179. Mr. Whiston held his lecture near the Royal Exchange to an audience of fourteen worthy citizens, his subscribers and constant hearers.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., V. i. III. art. i. Provided the subscribers were erected into a new East India company.
1780. T. Mortimer, Elem. Comm., 362. The original proprietors, or subscribers to the fund which formed the capital of the Bank of England.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 359. By giving to a one guinea subscriber a privilege equal to that which is enjoyed by a three guinea subscriber.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. Pref. Our principal duty is to thank all our supporters, whether Subscribers, Advertisers, or Contributors.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rural Sports, I. III. viii. 203. The Draw should be conducted on the following plan: first, the money for each stake should be paid to the secretary by the subscribers.
1873. Curwen, Hist. Booksellers, 425. In 1842, Mr. Mudie commenced his system of lending out one exchangeable volume to subscribers at the rate of a guinea per annum.
1898. Fraser-Mackintosh, Minor Septs Clan Chattan, Pref. p. vi. My best acknowledgments are due … to Mr John Mackay, the publisher, for the really handsome manner in which the book has been issued to subscribers.
b. transf. A contributor. nonce-use.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., IV. I was in for a list of blunders, and could not help making you a subscriber.
c. ‘N. Y. Stock Exch. Formerly, a speculator who, being a nonmember, was allowed on the floor of the Exchange outside of a certain rail’ (Webster, 1911).
Hence Subscribership.
1828. Lancet, 26 July, 539/2. I am now perfectly unconnected with its proprietorship, editorship, contributorship, subscribership, and readership!
