undertook
[ uhn-der-too k ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈtʊk /
verb
simple past tense of undertake.
RELATED WORDS
shoulder, begin, launch, offer, try, initiate, tackle, commence, guarantee, covenant, stake, pledge, devote, move, bargain, stipulate, embark, promise, contract, venture
Nearby words
- underthroating,
- underthrust,
- undertime,
- undertint,
- undertone,
- undertow,
- undertrick,
- undertrump,
- underused,
- underutilize
undertake
[ uhn-der-teyk ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈteɪk /
verb (used with object), un·der·took, un·der·tak·en, un·der·tak·ing.
to take upon oneself, as a task, performance, etc.; attempt: She undertook the job of answering all the mail.
to promise, agree, or obligate oneself (followed by an infinitive): The married couple undertook to love, honor, and cherish each other.
to warrant or guarantee (followed by a clause): The sponsors undertake that their candidate meets all the requirements.
to take in charge; assume the duty of attending to: The lawyer undertook a new case.
verb (used without object), un·der·took, un·der·tak·en, un·der·tak·ing.
Archaic. to engage oneself by promise; give a guarantee, or become surety.
Origin of undertake
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for undertook
undertook
/ (ˌʌndəˈtʊk) /
verb
the past tense of undertake
undertake
/ (ˌʌndəˈteɪk) /
verb -takes, -taking, -took or -taken
(tr) to contract to or commit oneself to (something) or (to do something)to undertake a job; to undertake to deliver the goods
(tr) to attempt to; agree to start
(tr) to take (someone) in charge
(intr foll by for) archaic to make oneself responsible (for)
(tr) to promise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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undertake
c.1200, "to entrap," in the same sense as Old English underniman (cf. Dutch ondernemen, German unternehmen), of which it is a partial loan-translation, from under + take. Cf. also French entreprendre "to undertake," from entre "between, among" + prendre "to take." The under in this word may be the same one that also may form the first element of understand. Meaning "to accept" is attested from mid-13c.; that of "to take upon oneself, to accept the duty of" is from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper