contract, undertake
(verb) enter into a contractual arrangement
undertake, guarantee
(verb) promise to do or accomplish; “guarantee to free the prisoners”
undertake, set about, attempt
(verb) enter upon an activity or enterprise
undertake, take in charge
(verb) accept as a charge
undertake, tackle, take on
(verb) accept as a challenge; “I’ll tackle this difficult task”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
undertake (third-person singular simple present undertakes, present participle undertaking, simple past undertook, past participle undertaken)
(transitive) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.).
(intransitive) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).
(informal) To overtake on the wrong side.
(archaic, intransitive) To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
(obsolete, transitive) To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
(obsolete) To assume, as a character; to take on.
(obsolete) To engage with; to attack, take on in a fight.
(obsolete) To have knowledge of; to hear.
(obsolete) To have or take charge of.
• Sense: To commit oneself. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive.
• See English catenative verbs
Source: Wiktionary
Un`der*take", v. t. [imp. Undertook; p. p. Undertaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Undertaking.] Etym: [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.
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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
29 January 2025
(noun) all of the feelings resulting from the urge to gratify sexual impulses; “he wanted a better sex life”; “the film contained no sex or violence”
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.
