| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ verb
Etymology: Middle English undertaken, from under (I) + taken to take — more at take
transitive verb
1. : to take in hand : enter upon : set about : attempt
undertake a task
undertake a journey
undertake to campaign for office
when armed uprisings have been undertaken by single oppressed classes — M.R.Cohen
2. : to take upon oneself solemnly or expressly : put oneself under obligation to perform : contract , covenant
a player undertakes to win nine tricks provided he may declare his own trumps — J.B.Pick
3. : guarantee , promise
the magician who undertakes to make or stop rain — J.G.Frazer
4. : to accept as a charge : engage to look after or attend to : accept the responsibility for the care of
undertake a patient
lawyer may refuse to undertake a case which appears to him unsound — H.S.Drinker
5. archaic
a. : to engage with in combat
b. : to engage with in argument or competition : take on
6. obsolete : reprove , chide
7. obsolete : to take in or receive by hearing or interpreting
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to enter into an engagement or contract : pledge — used with for
2. archaic : to give surety or assume responsibility — used with for
3. obsolete : to engage in a venture or enterprise