Undertake

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: un=der=take

CIDE DICTIONARY

Undertake, v. t. [Under + take.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "To second, or oppose, or undertake
  The perilous attempt."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I 'll undertake to land them on our coast."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, to guarantee; to promise; to affirm.  [1913 Webster]

  "And he was not right fat, I undertake."  [1913 Webster]

  "And those two counties I will undertake
  Your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy."  [1913 Webster]

  "I dare undertake they will not lose their labor."  [1913 Webster]
•  To assume, as a character.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To engage with; to attack.  [1913 Webster]

  "It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offense to."  [1913 Webster]
•  To have knowledge of; to hear.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]
•  To take or have the charge of.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Keep well those that ye undertake."  [1913 Webster]

Undertake, v. i. 

•  To take upon one's self, or assume, any business, duty, or province.  [1913 Webster]

  "O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me."  [1913 Webster]
•  To venture; to hazard.  [1913 Webster]

  "It is the cowish terror of his spirit
  That dare not undertake."  [1913 Webster]
•  To give a promise or guarantee; to be surety.  [1913 Webster]

  "But on mine honor dare I undertake
  For good lord Titus' innocence in all."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Undertake, v.tr. (past -took; past part. -taken)
1 bind oneself to perform, make oneself responsible for, engage in, enter upon (work, an enterprise, a responsibility).
2 (usu. foll. by to + infin.) accept an obligation, promise.
3 guarantee, affirm (I will undertake that he has not heard a word).

THESAURUS

Undertake

accept, accept obligation, agree, agree to, answer for, approach, assay, assume, attack, attempt, bargain, bargain for, be answerable for, be responsible for, be security for, begin, bind, buckle to, carry on, certify, chance, commence, commit, compact, conduct, contract, covenant, dive into, do, do a deal, embark in, embark on, embark upon, employ, endeavor, engage, engage in, enter on, enter upon, essay, exercise, fall into, fall to, follow, get busy, get cracking, get going, get under way, get with it, go about, go at, go bail for, go in for, go into, go to it, go upon, guarantee, have an understanding, have at, hop to it, jump to it, launch forth, launch into, lay about, lift a finger, light into, make a deal, make an attempt, make an effort, move into, obligate, offer, pass, pitch in, pitch into, pledge, plunge into, practice, proceed to, promise, prosecute, pursue, sail into, seek, set about, set at, set forward, set going, set to, set to work, shake hands on, specialize in, stand back of, start, start in, stipulate, strive, struggle, swear, tackle, take on, take the vows, take to, take up, try, turn to, use, venture, venture on, venture upon, vow, wade into, wage, warrant, work at

ROGET THESAURUS

Undertake

Business

VB 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, workaday, professional, official, 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.

Undertaking

VB 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 one's, broach one's, institute one's, 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.

Beginning

VB 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.

Promise

VB 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.