TASK

I. noun Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Middle French dialect (Picardy, Flanders) tasque, from Medieval Latin tasca tax or service imposed by a feudal superior, alteration of *taxa, from taxare to tax Date: 14th century 1. a usually assigned piece of work often to be finished within a certain time, something hard or unpleasant that has to be done, duty , function , subjection to adverse criticism ; reprimand , Synonyms: see: ~ II. transitive verb Date: 14th century to assign a ~ to , to impose a tax on, to oppress with great labor