Main Entry:

un·der·take

Pronunciation:

\ˌən-dər-ˈtāk\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

un·der·took \-ˈtu̇k\ ; un·der·tak·en \-ˈtā-kən\ ; un·der·tak·ing

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1: to take upon oneself : set about : attempt <undertake a task> <undertake to learn to swim>2: to put oneself under obligation to perform ; also : to accept as a charge or responsibility <the lawyer who undertook the case>3: guarantee, promise <readily undertook that the letter should be securely conveyed — Sir Walter Scott>intransitive verbarchaic : to give surety or assume responsibility