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Undertake
Definitions
- 1 The passing of slower traffic on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic. British, informal
- 1 To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.). transitive
"This said, he sat; and expectation held His look suspense, awaiting who appeared To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt."
- 2 enter into a contractual arrangement wordnet
- 3 To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.). intransitive
"He undertook to exercise more in future."
- 4 promise to do or accomplish wordnet
- 5 To pass a slower moving vehicle on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic. British, informal
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 enter upon an activity or enterprise wordnet
- 7 To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say. archaic, intransitive
"That is her ransom; I deliver her; And those two counties I will undertake Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy."
- 8 accept as a charge wordnet
- 9 To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon. obsolete, transitive
- 10 accept as a challenge wordnet
- 11 To assume, as a character; to take on. obsolete
"Quince. […] you must needs play Pyramus. Bottom. Well, I will undertake it."
- 12 To engage with; to attack, take on in a fight. obsolete
"It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to."
- 13 To have knowledge of; to hear. obsolete
"Ne he his mouth would open unto wight, Untill that Guyon selfe unto him spake, And called Brigadore, (so was he hight,) Whose voice so soone as he did undertake, Eftsoones he stood as still as any stake,"
- 14 To have or take charge of. obsolete
"To the water side I must conduct your grace; Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux, Who undertakes you to your end."
Etymology
From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).
From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).
See also for "undertake"
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Unscramble this word: undertake