Contents
English
Etymology
under- + take (after undernim).
Pronunciation
Verb
to 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.).
- He undertook a course of medication.
- (intransitive) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).
- He undertook to take more exercise in future.
- (informal) to overtake on the wrong side.
- I hate people that try and undertake on the motorway.
- (archaic, intransitive) To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- "I have now aspyed one knyght," he seyde, "that woll play hys play at the justys, I undirtake."
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- (obsolete, transitive) To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IX:
- So Sir Trystram endured there grete payne, for syknes had undirtake hym – and that ys the grettist payne a presoner may have [...].
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IX:
Usage notes
- Sense: To commit oneself. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive.
- See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Derived terms
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