endosser

to put on (a garment), to assume (responsibility)

verb ahn-doh-SEH Rare

Origin: From Old French endosser, from en- + dos (back), literally 'to put on one's back'

Also means

to endorse (a cheque)

Usage Note

Endosser spans a concrete sense — endosser un manteau (to put on a coat) — and a figurative one: endosser la responsabilité means to take responsibility onto oneself, often implying an unwanted burden. In banking, endosser un chèque means to endorse it on the back. The figurative use is far more frequent in modern speech.

Examples

"Il a endossé toute la responsabilité de l'erreur."

Natural Translation

He took on all responsibility for the mistake.

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