take on, receive responsibility for a task; guarantee, pledge
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Undertake Definition from Arts & Humanities Dictionaries & Glossaries
Undertake Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
(v. t.)
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 take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt.
(v. t.)
To take or have the charge of.
To take or have the charge of.
(v. t.)
To have knowledge of; to hear.
To have knowledge of; to hear.
(v. t.)
To engage with; to attack.
To engage with; to attack.
(v. t.)
To assume, as a character.
To assume, as a character.
(v. t.)
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.
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.
(v. t.)
Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.
Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.
(v. i.)
To venture; to hazard.
To venture; to hazard.
(v. i.)
To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.
To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.
(v. i.)
To give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. AboutTo give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.
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. xxxviii. 14.
2. to venture; to hazard. [obs.] it is the cowish terror of his spirit that dare not undertake.
3. to give a promise or guarantee; to be surety. but on mine honor dare i undertake for good lord titus' innocence in all.
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.
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.
3. hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm. and he was not right fat, i undertake. and those two counties i will undertake your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy. i dare undertake they will not lose their labor.
4. to assume, as a character. [obs.]
5. to engage with; to attack. [obs.] it is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offense to.
6. to have knowledge of; to hear. [obs.]
7. to take or have the charge of. [obs.] "who undertakes you to your end." keep well those that ye undertake.
undertake
v
1. enter upon an activity or enterprise [syn: set about, attempt]
2. accept as a challenge [syn: tackle, take on]
3. promise or guarantee [syn: guarantee]
4. enter into a contractual arrangement [syn: contract]
5. accept as a charge [syn: take in charge]
Verb
1. enter upon an activity or enterprise
(synonym) set about, attempt
(hypernym) initiate, pioneer
(derivation) undertaking, project, task, labor
2. accept as a challenge; "I'll tackle this difficult task"
(synonym) tackle, take on
(hypernym) confront, face up, face
(hyponym) rise
3. promise to do or accomplish; "guarantee to free the prisoners"
(synonym) guarantee
(hypernym) promise, assure
(hyponym) underwrite, subvention, subvent
4. enter into a contractual arrangement
(synonym) contract
(hypernym) promise, assure
(hyponym) stipulate
5. accept as a charge
(synonym) take in charge
(hypernym) accept, consent, go for
