underskrevne

Underskrevne is a Danish noun phrase used to refer collectively to the people who have signed a document or statement. It translates roughly to "the undersigned" in English and is commonly found in formal writing, such as letters, petitions, contracts, and official notices. The term signals that the individuals named or listed are authors, signatories, or endorsers of the content.

In practice, underskrevne appears at the end of documents or in sections that enumerate signatories, for example in phrases like De underskrevne erklærer... (The undersigned declare...) or Underskrevne har fortrinsvis rettet henvendelse til... (The undersigned have primarily addressed...). It functions as a designation of responsibility or endorsement for the statements that follow or have been agreed upon.

Grammatical notes: underskrevne is derived from the past participle underskrevet (signed) and is used as a nominalized form to denote the signatories. It most commonly refers to a plural group, while singular usage is rare and typically articulated with a definite form such as den underskrevne to refer to a single signer. In everyday Danish, the plural form is the standard when referring to multiple people who have signed.

Related terms include underskrift (signature) and underskriftslinje (signature line). The concept of underskrevne is chiefly occupational and legal in nature, appearing in administrative communications, legal documents, and formal appeals to indicate authorship, consent, or endorsement by the listed individuals.