Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
undertake en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌɐndəˈtæɪk/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/ (Canada, General-American)
- (California) audio
- /ˌʌndəˈteɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).
Meanings
-
(UK, informal) The passing of slower traffic on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic.
Forms
Antonyms
overtake
undertake en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˌɐndəˈtæɪk/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˌʌndɚˈteɪk/ (Canada, General-American)
- (California) audio
- /ˌʌndəˈteɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).
Meanings
-
(transitive) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on.
They undertook cleaning the house room by room.
They undertook the new venture, not sure where it would lead.
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appeared
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt.
1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 417-420:
-
(intransitive) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).
They undertook to clean the house room by room.
He undertook to exercise more in future.
[…] if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us
With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
I’ll undertake to land them on our coast
And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
-
(UK, informal) To pass a slower moving vehicle on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic.
-
(archaic, intransitive) To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
[…] if those Persons who are curious in collecting either Minerals, or the Shells, Teeth, or other Parts of Animal Bodies that have been buried in the Earth, do but search the Hills after Rains, and the Sea-Shores after Storms, I dare undertake they will not lose their Labour.
1695, John Woodward, An Essay towards a Natural History of the Earth and Terrestrial Bodies, London: Richard Wilkin, Part 4, pp. 222-223:That is her ransom; I deliver her;
And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
-
(obsolete, transitive) To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
-
(obsolete) To assume, as a character; to take on.
Quince. […] you must needs play Pyramus.
Bottom. Well, I will undertake it.
c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
-
(obsolete) To engage with; to attack, take on in a fight.
It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to.
1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
-
(obsolete) To have knowledge of; to hear.
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,
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 34:
-
(obsolete) To have or take charge of.
To the water side I must conduct your grace;
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.
1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Forms
Antonyms
overtake
Deriveds
undertakable · reundertake · undertaking · undertakement · undertaker
Synonyms
set about · take on · tackle
Translations (55)
uk розпочина́ти (to start an enterprise) · ko 맡다 (to start an enterprise) · pl przedsięwziąć (to commit oneself to an obligation) · uk гарантува́ти (to commit oneself to an obligation) · grc ἐπιχειρέω (to start an enterprise) · nl ondernemen (to start an enterprise) · pt empreender (to start an enterprise) · pt dedicar (to commit oneself to an obligation) · ar قَامَ (to start an enterprise) · pl założyć działalność gospodarczą (to start an enterprise) · uk роби́ти (to start an enterprise) · es emprender (to start an enterprise) · bg поемам задължение (to commit oneself to an obligation) · uk руча́тися (to commit oneself to an obligation) · ca emprendre (to start an enterprise) · uk бра́тися (to start an enterprise) · ru руча́ться (to commit oneself to an obligation) · la adeo (to start an enterprise) · es comprometerse a (to commit oneself to an obligation) · mi oati (to commit oneself to an obligation) · pl podejmować (to commit oneself to an obligation) · oc emprene (to start an enterprise) · it impegnarsi (to commit oneself to an obligation) · uk зді́йснювати (to start an enterprise) · ru поручи́ться (to commit oneself to an obligation) · fi ruveta (to start an enterprise) · pl zakładać działalność gospodarczą (to start an enterprise) · eo entrepreni (to start an enterprise) · it intraprendere (to start an enterprise) · es entrar en faena (to start an enterprise) · de ausführen (to start an enterprise) · sl zavezati se (to commit oneself to an obligation) · it imprendere (to start an enterprise) · fr entreprendre (to start an enterprise) · cmn 進行 /进行 (to start an enterprise) · pt comprometer-se (to commit oneself to an obligation) · pl podjąć (to commit oneself to an obligation) · pl przedsiębrać (to commit oneself to an obligation) · it dedicarsi (to commit oneself to an obligation) · bg предприемам (to start an enterprise) · ru предпринима́ть (to start an enterprise) · ro întreprinde (to start an enterprise) · es meterse en faena (to start an enterprise) · es acometer (to start an enterprise) · es incoar (to start an enterprise) · de unternehmen (to start an enterprise) · dlm imprandro (to start an enterprise) · grc ἐπιχειρέω (to commit oneself to an obligation) · de sich verpflichten (to commit oneself to an obligation) · oc emprendre (to start an enterprise) · ta மேற்கொள் (to start an enterprise) · tr girişmek (to start an enterprise) · fi ryhtyä (to start an enterprise) · ja 取り掛かる (to start an enterprise) · ru предприня́ть (to start an enterprise)