[ad. L. subscriptio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subscript-, subscrībĕre to SUBSCRIBE. Cf. OF. sub-, soubscripcion, mod.F. souscription, (Pr. sotzescriptio), It. soscrizione, Sp. subscripcion, Pg. subscripção.]
1. A piece of writing at the end of a document, e.g., the concluding clause or formula of a letter with the writer’s signature, the colophon of a book, etc., the note appended to the epistles in the New Testament, etc.
c. 1450. Lydg., Secrees, 659. Off his pistil a breef Subcrypcyoun, Set lowly vndir.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 6. Wherunto the same printers shalbe bounde to put the superscripcion and subscripcion in this forme, That is to saie: by the King and his Clergye, with addicion in the ende of the printers name … and yere of the printing of the same.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, I. (1625), 12. The manner of Salutation, the order of taking leave or farewell, the Subscription, and the outward direction.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., III. vii. How’s this? Yours, if his owne?… Belike this is some new kinde of subscription the gallants use.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 80. The subscription to the first Epistle to Timothy.
1727. W. Mather, Yng. Man’s Comp., 104. Subscriptions for Letters. To the King; or To his most Excellent Majesty,… To the Queen, or, To the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VII. 197. She dictated the farewel part, without hesitation; and when she came to the blessing and subscription, she took the pen, and … wrote the conclusion.
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul., xv. 378. The subscription of the first epistle to the Corinthians states that it was written from Philippi.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 170. Fust and Schoeffer, in the subscriptions to the books printed by them, lay no claim to the invention … of the art.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., I. 102/1. The subscription [to the additions to Esther] … refer to the whole book.
† b. Something written or inscribed underneath, e.g., a number written under another, an inscription or title underneath. Obs.
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 772. These portraitures … with the subscription following.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1683), 206. A large Picture … with this Subscription.
1709–29. V. Mandey, Syst. Math., Arith., 68. Multiply the whole Subscription by the Quotient.
1814. Gentl. Mag., July, 51. The … representation of a goat giving suck to the whelp of a wolf, with a subscription, which has been thus rendered.
2. A signature, signed name.
In Sc. sign (or signet) and subscription manual was formerly freq.
1483. Sc. Acts (1875), XII. 32/1. Lettrez of securite vndir þar Selis & subscripcions manualis.
1547. J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 226. The seales & subscriptions be so many, so auncient, and so faire, as cannot lightelie be counterfaicte.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., VI. xlii. 118. Other epistles of Cyprian in the Romaine tongue with the subscription of diuerse other byshops.
1640. Sc. Acts Chas. I. (1870), V. 268. Wch wordis he shall subscrybe with his signe and subscriptione manuell.
1690. in Nairne Peerage Evid. (1874), 27. Before thir witnesses to the subscriptions of the saids Marqueis and Marchiones of Atholl.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 29 Oct. 1662. The syngraphs and original subscriptions of divers Eastern Patriarchs.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. 284. All the blurr’d subscriptions in my book.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., vii. Our sacred subscription is duly marked with the fitting tinge of green and purple.
1888. Law Times Rep. (N.S.), LIX. 3/2. A probative deed, which they attested by their subscriptions.
3. A signed declaration or statement; Rom. Antiq., a rescript signed by the emperor. Obs. exc. Hist.
1599. Q. Eliz., in Moryson Itin. (1617), II. 40. Though you think the allowance of that Counsell, whose subscriptions are your Ecchoes, should … satisfie us.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XV. vi. 42. This Athanasius … was by commandement from the Emperour warned by his subscription to depose from his sacerdotall See.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. § 115. A Letter from the King, and a subscription from the Lords Commissioners.
1661. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 71. The way of maintenance layd out in your Act is directly opposed by a Subscription sent up to Colonell Gilby and my selfe.
1666. in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 259. I have sent you here inclosed a subscription which I have taken vnder his hand.
1773. Burke, Sp. Relief Prot. Diss., Wks. X. 33. There was no subscription, to which they were to set their hands.
1851. Hussey, Papal Power, ii. 80. It was argued, that they had no subscription from the Pope, nor ecclesiastical authority, to back them.
1864. Pomeroy, Munic. Law, 41. An Annotation or Subscription was written to a private person, in answer to questions of a merely private application.
4. The action or an act of affixing a signature; the signing of one’s name or of a document.
1492. Earl of Huntly, in Thanes of Cawdor (Spalding Club), 156. Writin at Lochcanmor under our signet, and with the subscriptioune of our hand.
1562. Sandys, in Strype, Ann. Ref. (1735), I. 339. Every Bishop by the Subscription of his hand, promiseth, that he shall not … Alienate any of his Manors.
1592. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 586/1. Concerning subscriptioun of the signatures of the new infeftmentis of temporalities.
1689. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 268. Vpon his subscription [he] was admitted to take his place in ye Councill.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. 127. The people … flocked to the subscription of this covenant.
1765–8. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., III. ii. § 8. A subscription by a cross or mark.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xvii. The subscription of the contract of marriage had … been just concluded.
1885. Law Rep., 14 Q. B. Div. 715. The making and subscription of an oath in the House of Commons.
1912. Signatures Jrnl. Bk. Roy. Soc., Pref. The subscription of these signatures.
5. A declaration of one’s assent to articles of religion, or some formal declaration of principles, etc., by signing one’s name; spec. in the Church of England, assent to the Thirty-nine Articles.
1588. Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 3. Any other of the holy league of subscription.
a. 1620. J. Dyke, Right Receiving (1640), 8. Now that we have once said we are the Lords, and have subscribed to it, let us … have a care to say, we will be the Lords, and to stand to and make good our subscription.
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., vi. (1661), 155. We do indeed require subscription to our Articles.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 72. The persecuted Church of English in Frankford … demanded subscription to their discipline of every man.
1721. [A. A. Sykes] (title), The case of subscription to the 39 Articles considered.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 141. Application made to parliament … for relief in the business of subscription.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., i. 23. The Cambridge Act … abolished all subscription for degrees.
a. 1890. Liddon, Pusey (1893), I. 148. A check upon insurrectionary thought, such as is exerted by subscriptions to Confessions of Faith.
† 6. Assent, approval. Also, an instance of this.
1580. G. Harvey, Lett. to Spenser, in S.’s Wks. (1912), 630/1. You shal neuer haue my subscription or consent … to make your Carpēnter our Carpĕnter.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 827. For the excellencie of the Tobacco there found, he should happily haue the smokie subscriptions of many Humorists.
1620. Venner, Via Recta (1650), 68. To their opinion … I see no reason why I should yeeld my subscription.
c. 1650. Bradford, Plymouth Plant. (1856), 5. The more ye light of ye gospell grew, ye more yey urged their subscriptions to these corruptions.
† b. Submission, allegiance. Obs. rare.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. ii. 18. I neuer gaue you Kingdome, call’d you Children; You owe me no subscription.
7. The action or an act of subscribing money to a fund or for stock; the raising of a sum of money for a certain object by collecting contributions from a number of people; † a scheme for raising money in this way. Also, an undertaking or agreement to subscribe so much.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., II. vi. 122. The Treasurers appointed to receive the Moneys come in upon the Subscriptions for Ireland.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1885), II. 22. They hired him with a subscription of losses, for which they gave him public credit double to what he really had lost.
a. 1692. Pollexfen, Disc. Trade (1697), 105. Without New Subscriptions there can be no way of coming into this Trade under this Charter, but by Buying Shares of the present Adventures.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 9 Aug. 1682. The Academy which Monsieur Faubert did hope to procure to be built by subscription of worthy gentlemen and noblemen.
1740. Cibber, Apol. (1756), I. 142. Many people of quality came into a voluntary subscription of twenty … guineas a-piece, for erecting a theatre.
1747. Sherlock, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 299. I hear nothing from London of any moment, except the great Subscription for raising money next year.
1748. Winter Even. Conv. Club of Jews, etc. in N. & Q., Ser. V. V. 413/1. By stock-jobbers he means dose dat be not able to comply vit dare subscriptions.
1762. T. Mortimer, Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5), 21. They will scarce better themselves by any new subscription.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Cl. (1815), 193. There is a public ball by subscription every night.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxvii. A certain hackney, which he … and another honest shopkeeper, combined to maintain by joint subscription.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. i. There has been erected, apparently by subscription, a kind of Wooden Tent.
1889. W. C. Anderson, Dict. Law, 986 (Cent. Dict.). Where an advance has been made … by others in consequence of a subscription, before notice given of a withdrawal, the subscription becomes obligatory.
1912. World, 7 May, 698/2. 100,000 cumulative 7 per cent. preference shares will be offered for subscription.
8. A contribution of money for a specified object; spec. the fixed sum promised or required as a periodical contribution by a member of a society, etc., to its funds, or for the purchase of a periodical publication, or in payment for a book published ‘by subscription’ (see 9).
Subscription and donation (to a charitable fund, a society, or the like) are usually contrasted, the former being a recurrent, the latter a single, contribution.
1679. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 367. Had not some of our benefactours been very slow in paying their subscriptions.
1710. J. Chamberlayne, M. Brit. Notitia, II. 624. The Dean and Chapter have been no less bountiful, and the Clergy of the City are not backward in their Subscriptions.
1729. T. Cooke, Tales, etc. 120. A Genius form’d like mine will soar at all, And boldly follow where Subscriptions call.
a. 1763. W. King, Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819), 183. Being applied to … for a charitable subscription.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 11. That John Drew … and Tilden Sampson … be requested to receive subscriptions for the use of the institution.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 126. Subscriptions and donations to be paid to the secretary.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, xxxiii. (ed. 3), 300. The subscription to Almack’s was ten guineas.
1912. Nature, 26 Dec., 468/1. The temporary address of the society is the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, S.W. There is no subscription.
b. A sum of money subscribed by several parties; a fund: formerly spec. in Stock Exchange language. Now U.S. in phr. to make or take up a subscription, to make a collection.
1730. Cheny, List Horse-Matches, 145. On the 23d Day of June the 120 Guineas Subscription Money (and which Subscription is now expir’d) were run for at Richmond by five Year olds.
1756. J. Cox, Narr. Thief-takers, 15. A gentleman in the Commission of the Peace in that Neighbourhood, and the Treasurer of that Subscription. foot-note, A Reward of 20l. for the taking of Thieves in Tottenham Division.
1762. T. Mortimer, Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5), 46, note. A large quantity of any new fund, commonly called Subscription.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., s.v. Scrip, Scrip is also a Change Alley phrase for the last loan or subscription.
1855. Poultry Chron., II. 530. A subscription is opened to present Mr. T. B. Wright, of Birmingham, with [etc.].
1856. J. Richardson, Recoll., I. iii. 53. The parochial authorities … set on foot a subscription for the purchase of a piece of plate.
1865. H. Phillips, Amer. Paper Curr., II. 168. To relieve the army a subscription was taken up by the ladies of Philadelphia.
1897. Daily News, 22 April, 6/3. [American sailor loq.] Let’s make a subscription.
† c. spec. A share in a commercial undertaking or a loan. Also collect. sing. Obs.
1727. Swift, Circumcis. E. Curll, Wks. 1755, III. I. 166. Sir Gideon Lopez tempted him with forty pound subscription in Ram’s bubble.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Subscription, in the English Commerce, is used for the Share or Interest, particular Persons take in a public Stock, or a Trading Company, by writing their Names, and the Shares they require, in the Register thereof.
a. 1744. Pope, Imit. Horace, I. vii. 65. South-sea Subscriptions take who please.
1762. T. Mortimer, Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5), 108. I would farther recommend to you, by no means to lend your subscription, at the time of the coming out of the receipts:… for they [the Bears] borrow your Scrip to make good their illegal … bargains.
9. Book-trade. a. A method of bringing out a book, by which the publisher or author undertakes to supply copies of the book at a certain rate to those who agree to take copies before publication. Freq. in phr. by subscription.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Subscription for a Book, is when the Undertakers propose Advantages to those that take a certain Number of Copies at a set Price [Bailey 1730 adds: and lay down Part of the Money, before the Impression is finish’d].
1715. (Advt.) Proposals for Printing by Subscription a new Edition of Marcus Tullius Cicero, by Thomas Hearne.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Walton’s Polyglot Bible, which is the first Book ever printed by Way of Subscription.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Cl. (1815), 151. The Scotchman gives lectures on the pronunciation of the English language, which he is now publishing by subscription.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1831), I. 222. In 1766 she published, by subscription, a quarto volume of miscellanies.
1807. De Lolme, Const. Eng., Advert p. ii. In defect of encouragement from great men (and even from booksellers), I had recourse to a subscription.
1873. Curwen, Hist. Booksellers, 25. He waited four years before he ventured to publish, and then only by the safe method of subscription.
1890. Sprigge, Meth. Publ., 8. The system of publishing suggested by that firm … was that of ‘subscription.’
b. (a) The taking up of a book by the trade; (b) The offering of a book to the trade.
1895. Bookselling, June, 163. Where the trade subscription may be … expected to cover the cost of the first edition.
1912. Shaylor, Fascin. Bks., 145. As to modes of business, each new book when ready for publication is brought to these establishments for ‘subscription’—that is, to ascertain how many copies will be bought.
c. U.S. The house-to-house sale of books by canvassers. Freq. attrib.
1880. Publisher’s Weekly (U.S.), 24 April, 425. There has been a great deal of grumbling in the retail trade … that so many good books have been taken out of its hands and put into those of subscription ‘agents.’ Many writers, such as Mark Twain, confine themselves, in fact, to subscription publishing. Ibid., 22 May, 516. The important trade question of the ownership of subscription orders.
1897. G. H. P. & J. B. P[utnam], Auth. & Publ. (ed. 7), 51. Books sold by subscription (that is, through canvassers).
10. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 8) subscription-money, -purse, -share; subscription-hunting ppl. adj.; subscription book, (a) a book containing the names of subscribers to any object (with the amounts of their subscriptions); (b) U.S. Book-trade, a book sold from house to house by canvassers; subscription list, a list of subscribers’ names (with the amounts of their subscriptions); so † subscription-paper, † -roll; subscription price, (a) the price at which a book is offered before publication to those who promise to take copies, being usually lower than the price at which any unsubscribed copies will be sold on or after publication; (b) the price at which a periodical publication is supplied to those who promise to take so many numbers; † subscription receipt (cf. SCRIP sb.4), a receipt for a share or shares taken up in a loan or commercial undertaking; subscription room, a room (e.g., belonging to a club, an exchange) that is open to subscribers only; † subscription-society, a union of workmen to which each contributes a subscription. (See also 9 c.)
1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, No. 12 (1726), I. 65. *Subscription-books (by them called matriculation-books) were open’d, and most of the nobility and gentry subscribed their sons and their wards into them.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Cl. (1815), 64. I consulted the subscription-book; and, perceiving the names of several old friends, began to consider the group with more attention.
1784. New Bath Guide, 65. Each Master has a ball in the winter and spring seasons, and subscription-books are also laid down at the Rooms, that all the company may have an opportunity of shewing those gentlemen marks of their respect.
1819. Egan, Walks through Bath, 97. Ladies and gentlemen disposed to become members, are requested to have their names entered in the society’s subscription-book.
1880. Publisher’s Weekly (U.S.), 24 April, 425 (heading), The trade and subscription books.
1897. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 16 Jan., 7/8. The Trustees of the Fenway Garden [Boston, Mass.] … have decided to keep the subscription-books open for the present.
1898. Shaw, Perf. Wagnerite, 134. Energetic *subscription-hunting ladies.
1843–56. Bouvier, Law Dict. (ed. 6), II. 555/1. *Subscription list, the names of persons who have agreed to take a newspaper, magazine or other publication, placed upon paper, is a subscription list.
1880. Publisher’s Weekly (U.S.), 22 May, 516. That he be enjoined and restrained … from interfering with the subscription-lists of said publications, and from attempting to discharge any subscriber from his subscription thereto.
1887. Spectator, 6 Aug., 1057/2. Whilst he [S. Rogers] was annually giving away large sums, his name figured little in subscription-lists.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IX. § 27 (an. 1645). The Letter Money and *Subscription Money being almost exhausted.
1715. MS., in Urry, Chaucer’s Wks. (B. Mus.). Books to be Delivered to the Subscribers Complt in Quires on paymt of their Subscription Money.
1730. [see sense 8 b].
1774. Foote, Cozeners, I. Wks. 1799, II. 146. My expences in … subscription-money to most of the clubs and coteries.
1780. New Bath Guide, 26. The subscription to the dress-balls is one guinea to each room for the season, or as long as the subscription-money lasts.
1779. Mirror, No. 2, ¶ 4. The *subscription-paper hung up fronting the door.
1886. Perf. Bk. Kepinge Sparhawkes, Prospectus, *Subscription price, £1 1s; early application is needed to secure a copy.
1891. Academy, 21 Feb., 185/2. The new publication … will be published monthly at a subscription price of eight rupees per annum, including postage.
1811. Sporting Mag., XXXVIII. 221. The *subscription-purse of a hunting club.
1762. T. Mortimer, Ev. Man own Broker (ed. 5), 172. The *subscription receipts thus paid in full, are called in the Alley, Heavy-Horse. Ibid. (1780), Elem. Comm., 396. If the second or third purchasers in the course of circulation at market, are holders of the subscription receipts at the time of a payment.
a. 1676. Hale, Life P. Atticus (1677), 142. They thought … that his Name should be the first in the *Subscription-Roll.
1812. Coleridge, Friend (1818), III. 171. The innocent amusement … deserving of all praise as a preventive substitute for the stall, the kennel, and the *subscription-room.
1914. Daily Tel., 3 Aug., 5/1. The subscription-room of the Corn Exchange will … be open for the convenience of members.
1856. Ann. Reg., Chron., 52/2. The expenses of erecting the theatre are said to have amounted to 150,000l.; of which … 50,000l. [was] raised by *subscription-shares of 500l. each. Ibid. (1769), 124. [Spitalfields] handkerchief-weavers … entered into a subscription of six-pence on every loom, to support their cause against the masters, one of whom … insisted … that his men should not belong to the *subscription-society.
b. in adj. use with the sense ‘supported by subscription, maintained or provided by, open to, subscribers,’ as subscription ball, charity-school, club, concert, cricket-match, dance, house, library, masquerade, music, night, school.
1704. trans. Moliere’s (title), Monsieur de Pourceaugnac…. Acted at the Subscription Musick at the Theatre Royal.
1708. New View Lond., II. 762. A Subscription School for 50 Girls.
1749. H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), II. 268. A subscription masquerade.
1753. Scots Mag., XV. 36/2. Sums laid out in … subscription-concerts.
1779. C’tess Upper Ossory, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 176. A subscription ball is on foot, one hundred subscribers at twelve guineas each.
1808. Scott, in Lockhart (1837), I. 37. A respectable subscription library.
1819. Egan, Walks through Bath, 35. The Subscription-House … at York-Buildings. Ibid., 162. The Crescent-Fields,… with the addition of some charming subscription grounds.
1826. J. Cook, Fox-hunting, 149. A manager of a subscription pack.
1851. H. Coleridge, Ess., I. 305. Suckling of infants will be exploded, as unproductive labour. Pap will be made by contract in subscription soup-kettles.
1859. Miss Mulock, Life for a Life, xi. Charteris is opera-mad…. Every subscription-night, there he is, wedged in the crowd.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, vi. Subscription dances, under the patronage of a long list of names.
Hence (nonce-words) Subscriptionist, one who begs for subscriptions; Subscriptionless a., without subscriptions.
1853. N. Hawthorne, Engl. Note-bks. (1870), I. 59. I wish … I had given the poor family ten shillings, and denied it to a begging subscriptionist, who has just fleeced me to that amount.
1872. Daily Kansas Tribute, 4 Sept., 1/2. One covert Greeley fellow who had the advantage of the use of a Faber pencil and a subscriptionless press being his only opponent.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 9 March, 2/2. By depriving the school, already subscriptionless, of this aid grant.
