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undertake - 5 dictionary results

un⋅der⋅take

[uhn-der-teyk] verb, -took, -tak⋅en, -tak⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to take upon oneself, as a task, performance, etc.; attempt: She undertook the job of answering all the mail.
2. to promise, agree, or obligate oneself (fol. by an infinitive): The married couple undertook to love, honor, and cherish each other.
3. to warrant or guarantee (fol. by a clause): The sponsors undertake that their candidate meets all the requirements.
4. to take in charge; assume the duty of attending to: The lawyer undertook a new case.
–verb (used without object)
5. Archaic. to engage oneself by promise; give a guarantee, or become surety.

Origin:
1150–1200; ME undertaken; see under-, take
un·der·take   (ŭn'dər-tāk')   
v.   un·der·took (-tŏŏk'), un·der·tak·en, un·der·tak·ing, un·der·takes

v.   tr.
  1. To take upon oneself; decide or agree to do: undertake a task.
  2. To pledge or commit oneself: undertake to care for an elderly relative.
  3. To set about; begin.
  4. Obsolete To accept combat with.
v.   intr. Archaic
To make oneself responsible. Used with for.

Undertake

Un`der*take"\, v. t. [imp. Undertook; p. p. Undertaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Undertaking.] [Under + take.]

1. To take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt.

To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt. --Milton.

2. Specifically, to take upon one's self solemnly or expressly; to lay one's self under obligation, or to enter into stipulations, to perform or to execute; to covenant; to contract.

I 'll undertake to land them on our coast. --Shak.

3. Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.

And he was not right fat, I undertake. --Dryden.

And those two counties I will undertake Your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy. --Shak.

I dare undertake they will not lose their labor. --Woodward.

4. To assume, as a character. [Obs.] --Shak.

5. To engage with; to attack. [Obs.]

It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offense to. --Shak.

6. To have knowledge of; to hear. [Obs.] --Spenser.

7. To take or have the charge of. [Obs.] "Who undertakes you to your end." --Shak.

Keep well those that ye undertake. --Chaucer.

Undertake

Un`der*take"\, v. i. 1. To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.

O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. --Isa. xxxviii. 14.

2. To venture; to hazard. [Obs.]

It is the cowish terror of his spirit That dare not undertake. --Shak.

3. To give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.

But on mine honor dare I undertake For good lord Titus' innocence in all. --Shak.
Language Translation for : undertake
Spanish: emprender, encargarse (de),
German: übernehmen,
Japanese: 引き受ける

undertake 
c.1200, "to entrap," in the same sense as O.E. underniman (cf. Du. ondernemen, Ger. unternehmen), of which it is a partial loan-translation, from under + take. Cf. also Fr. entreprendre "to undertake," from entre "between, among" + prendre "to take." The under in this word may be the same one that also may form the first element of understand. Meaning "to accept" is attested from c.1250; that of "to take upon oneself, to accept the duty of" is from c.1300. Undertaking "enterprise" is recorded from c.1425.
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