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