SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Undertake [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. To take upon or assume any business or province.

2. O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. Isaiah 38:14 .

3. To venture; to hazard. They dare not undertake

4. To promise; to be bound.

5. I dare undertake they will not lose their labor.

6. To undertake for, to be bound; to become surety for.

Undertake [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. preterit tense undertook; participle passive undertaken. [under and take.]

2. To engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform. When I undertook this work, I had a very inadequate knowledge of the extent of my labors.

3. To covenant or contract to perform or execute. A man undertakes to erect a house, or to make a mile of canal, when he enters into stipulations for that purpose.

4. To attempt; as when a man undertakes what he cannot perform.

5. To assume a character. [Not in use.]

6. To engage with; to attack.

7. Your lordship should not undertake every companion you offend. [Not in use.]

8. To have the charge of.

9. - Who undertakes you to your end. [Not in use.]

Undertake [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.

2. To venture; to hazard.

3. To give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.

Undertake [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt.

2. Specifically, to take upon one's self solemnly or expressly; to lay one's self under obligation, or to enter into stipulations, to perform or to execute; to covenant; to contract.

3. Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.

4. To assume, as a character.

5. To engage with; to attack.

6. To have knowledge of; to hear.

7. To take or have the charge of.

Undertaken [Participle passive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

of undertake. The work was undertaken at his own expense.

Undertaken [Past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Undertake

Undertaker [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. One who undertakes; one who engages in any project or business.

2. One who stipulates or covenants to perform any work for another.

3. One who manages funerals.

Undertaker [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. One who undertakes; one who engages in any project or business.

2. One who stipulates or covenants to perform any work for another; a contractor.

3. Specifically, one who takes the charge and management of funerals.

Beginning Roget’s Thesaurus §66

N. beginning, commencement, opening, outset, incipience, inception, inchoation, introduction, alpha, initial, inauguration, debut, le premier pas, embarcation, rising of the curtain, maiden speech, outbreak, onset, brunt, initiative, move, first move, narrow end of the wedge, thin end of the wedge, fresh start, new departure, origin, source, rise, bud, germ, egg, rudiment, genesis, primogenesis, birth, nativity, cradle, infancy, start, inception, creation, starting point, dawn, evolution, title-page, head, heading, van, caption, fatihah, entrance, entry, inlet, orifice, mouth, chops, lips, porch, portal, portico, propylon, door, gate, gateway, postern, wicket, threshold, vestibule, propylaeum, skirts, border, first stage, first blush, first glance, first impression, first sight, rudiments, elements, outlines, grammar, alphabet, abce

V. begin, start, commence, conceive, open, dawn, set in, take its rise, enter upon, enter, set out, embark in, incept, initiate, launch, inaugurate, inchoate, rise, arise, originate, usher in, lead off, lead the way, take the lead, take the initiative, head, stand at the head, stand first, stand for, lay the foundations, found, set up, set on foot, agoing, set abroach, set the ball in motion, apply the match to a train, broach, open up, open the door to, get underway, set about, get to work, set to work, set to, make a beginning, make a start, handsel, take the first step, lay the first stone, cut the first turf, break ground, break the ice, break cover, pass the rubicon, cross the rubicon, open fire, open the ball, ventilate, air, undertake, come into existence, come into the world, make one's debut, take birth, burst forth, break out, spring up, spring forth, crop up, pop up, appear, materialize, begin at the beginning, begin ab ovo, begin again, begin de novo, start afresh, make a fresh start, take it from the top, shuffle the cards, reshuffle the cards, resume, recommence

Adj. beginning, initial, initiatory, initiative, inceptive, introductory, incipient, proemial, inaugural, inchoate, inchoative, embryonic, rudimental, primogenial, primeval, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, natal, nascent, first, foremost, leading, maiden, begun, just begun

Adv. at the beginning, in the beginning, &c. n, first, in the first place, imprimis, first and foremost, in limine, in the bud, in embryo, in its infancy, from the beginning, from its birth, ab initio, ab ovo, ab incunabilis, ab origine

Phr. let's get going, let's get this show on the road, up and at 'em, aller anfang ist schwer, dimidium facti qui coepit habet, omnium rerum principia parva sunt

Business Roget’s Thesaurus §625

N. business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business

V. pass one's time in, employ one's time in, spend one's time in, employ oneself in, employ oneself upon, occupy oneself with, concern oneself with, make it one's business, undertake, enter a profession, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, have to do with, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, drive a trade, carry on a trade, do a trade, transact a trade, carry on business, do business, transact business, keep a shop, ply one's task, ply one's trade, labor in one's vocation, pursue the even tenor of one's way, attend to business, attend to one's work, officiate, serve, act, act one's part, play one's part, do duty, serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of, hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation, hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation, be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on, have one's hands in, have in hand, have on one's hands, have on one's shoulders, bear the burden, have one's hands full, be in the hands of, be on the stocks, be on the anvil, pass through one's hands

Adj. businesslike, phr, workaday, "a business with an income at its heels", professional, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, official, par negotiis neque supra, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting

Adv. in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally &c

Undertaking Roget’s Thesaurus §676

N. undertaking, compact, adventure, venture, engagement, enterprise, emprise, pilgrimage, matter in hand, move, first move

V. undertake, engage in, embark in, launch into, plunge into, volunteer, apprentice oneself to, engage, contract, take upon oneself, take upon one's shoulders, devote oneself to, take up, take in hand, tackle, set about, go about, set to, fall to, set to work, launch forth, set up shop, put in hand, put in execution, set forward, break the neck of a business, be in, for, put one's hand to, put one's foot in, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, go to do, begin, broach, institute &c. one's (originate) 153, put one's hand to the plow, lay one's hand to the plow, put one's shoulder to the wheel, have in hand, have many irons in the fire

Adj. undertaking, on the anvil

Int. here goes

Promise Roget’s Thesaurus §768

N. promise, undertaking, word, troth, plight, pledge, parole, word of honor, vow, oath, profession, assurance, warranty, guarantee, insurance, obligation, contract, stipulation, engagement, preengagement, affiance, betroth, betrothal, betrothment

V. promise, give a promise, undertake, engage, make an engagement, form an engagement, enter into an engagement, enter on an engagement, bind oneself, tie oneself, pledge oneself, commit oneself, take upon oneself, vow, swear, give one's word, pass one's word, pledge one's word, plight one's word, give one's honor, pass one's honor, pledge one's honor, plight one's honor, give credit, pass credit, pledge credit, plight credit, give troth, pass troth, pledge troth, plight troth, betroth, plight faith, assure, warrant, guarantee, covenant, attest, hold out an expectation, contract an obligation, become bound to, become sponsor for, answer for, be answerable for, secure, give security, underwrite, adjure, administer an oath, put to one's oath, swear a witness

Adj. promising, promissory, votive, under hand and seal, upon oath, promised, affianced, pledged, bound, committed, compromised, in for it

Adv. as one's head shall answer for

Phr. in for a penny in for a pound, ex voto, gage d'amour

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

5 KJV and 3 BSB verses contain “Undertake”

1 Kings 7:40

And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:

Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of the LORD:

2 Chronicles 4:11

And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;

Additionally, Huram made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work that he had undertaken for King Solomon in the house of God:

Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”

Luke 1:1

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2 Esdras 13:31

And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, and one realm against another.

Sirach 29:19

A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men’s business for gain shall fall into suits.

2 Maccabees 2:27

Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains;

2 Maccabees 2:29

For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building; but he that undertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof: even so I think it is with us.