undertaken

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʌndə(ɹ)ˈteɪkən/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -eɪkən

Verb

undertaken

1. past participle of undertake

Middle English

Etymology

under- +‎ taken

Verb

undertaken (third-person singular simple present undertaketh, present participle undertakende, undertakynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative undertok, past participle undertaken)

1. To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 289-291:

     As leene was his hors as is a rake,
     And he nas nat right fat, I undertake,
     But looked holwe and therto sobrely.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxxvij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book IX:

     there came fourty knyghtes to sire Darras
     […]
     and they wold haue slayne sire Tristram and his two felawes
     but sire Darras wold not suffre that but kepte them in pryson
     […]
     So sire Tristram endured there grete payne
     for sekenesse had vndertake hym
     and that is the grettest payne a prysoner maye haue

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

3. To engage with; to attack, take on in a fight.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XIX, Chapter x, leaf 394v:

     Soo it happend in Spayne there was an Erles sone his name was Alphegus / and at a grete turnement in spayn this syre Vrre knyghte of Hongry and sir Alphegus of spayne encountred to gyders for veray enuy / and soo eyther vndertook other to the Vtteraunce.
     "So it happened in Spain there was an earl’s son, his name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in Spain this Sir Urre, knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus of Spain encountered together for very envy; and so either undertook other to the utterance."

4. To have or take charge of.
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Doctour of Physyckes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 81-82:

     […] therfore, for Cristes sake,
     Kepeth wel tho that ye undertake.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

• English: undertake