| 释义 |
▪ I. † ˈundertake, n. Obs.
[f. next.]
An undertaking, enterprise.
1647Sprigge Anglia Rediv. iv. ix. 295 The spoyle of the Castle, which cannot be avoyded in extreame undertakes against it. 1676Doctrine of Devils To Rdr., I shall say no more in vindication of the undertake.
▪ II. undertake, v.|ʌndəˈteɪk|
[f. under-1 8 a + take v., after undernim v. Cf. MSw. undertaka.]
I. trans.
†1.
a. To take by craft, to entrap; to overtake, seize upon. Obs.
c1200Ormin 10314 Forrþi þatt teȝȝ haffdenn niþ Wiþþ himm..& wolldenn unnderrtakenn himm Off summwhatt, ȝiff þeȝȝ mihhtenn. 1470–85Malory Arthur ix. xxxvii. 400 So sire Tristram endured there grete payne, for sekenesse had vndertake hym.
†b. To reprove, rebuke, chide. Obs.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 89 ‘Wher-of serueth lawe,’ quod lewte, ‘if no lyf vndertoke it, Falsenesse ne faytrye’. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 133 He wente to Scotlonde wiþ grete indingnacioun, for Wilfrede vndertook hym for he hylde vnlawfulliche Esterday. c1400Pilgr. Sowle i. xix. (1859) 19, I haue ful oftymes for thy mysdedys undertake the. c1440Gesta Rom. lxv. 290 Whan he was come, the Emperour vndirtoke hym of the cryme that he did to Guy. 1480Caxton Chron. Eng. cliii, And he wold dysherite the good erle..for encheson that he undertoke hym of his wikkedness. 1691tr. Emiliane's Frauds Rom. Monks (ed. 3) 53 When he was in the company of Monks, who were not Reformed,..he would undertake them in a high manner, yea, with Insolence it self.
†2.
a. To accept, receive willingly. Obs.
a1250Ancr. R. 114 He..underueng [Titus MS. undertoc] hit edmodliche. a1300Cursor M. 917 And þou, man, þat has vndertaken Þi wijf red, and min for-saken, Ne sal þou nawight þar wit win. Ibid. 9064 Yee rede me nu, for drightin sake, Your consail wil i vndertak. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9984 For he wulde nat men hyt forsoke, But þat alle men hyt vndyrtoke. 1338― Chron. (1810) 60 Þe barons said,..Þare trespas we vndertake opon alle our fee.
†b. To receive; to have given. Obs.
13..Cursor M. 4642 (Gött.), I will þat he here vndir-take All þe worschip of mi land. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 98 And boxes ben broght forþ i-bounden with yre, To vndertake þe tol of vntrewe sacrifice In menynge of miracles. 1623Lisle ælfric on O. & N. Test. Introd., Moses,..who wrote as God himself directed..while he abode with God upon Mount Sinai..& undertook [OE. orig., underfeng] his law.
†c. To receive into the mind; to hear. Obs.
13..St. Alexius 54 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 175 His fadir sette him sone to boke And wele clergie he vndir⁓toke. 1382Wyclif Ecclus. ii. 2 Bowe in thyn ere, and vndertac [L. suscipe] the wrdis of vndirstonding. 1596Spenser F.Q. v. iii. 34 Whose voice so soone as he did vndertake, Eftsoones he stood as still as any stake.
†3. To understand. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 307 And be þe hette þou vnderta Þa hali gost comms of hem tua. Ibid. 2050 Noe wit þat mantil woke, His sun hething he vnder-toke. a1400–50Alexander 2967 Sone þis gouernour of grece is of þis gaude ware,..& vndire⁓tuke he touched of him-selfe. c1440York Myst. xxiii. 23 Ȝe cowde noght vndyr-take The tales þat I ȝou tolde. c1510More Picus Wks. 10/1 While she spake of the seconde death and euerlasting: & he vndertoke her of the first death & temporal.
4. To take upon oneself; to take in hand.
Sometimes contextually ‘to enter upon, begin’.
a1300Cursor M. 4644, I wil him do at vnder-tak Þe wardanscipp of al mi land. Ibid. 4795, I am all redi bun Our aller nedes vnder ta. a1340Hampole Psalter xxiv. 7 A ȝoungman dredis noght to vndirtake þe peril þat he is slane in. c1374Chaucer Troylus ii. 807 He which þat no þyng vnder-taketh No þyng ne acheueth. 1404in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 20 The same cuntrees have undertake the seges of hem til thei ben wonnen. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 549 Telle me..what he sayeth of this quarell that ye have vndertake. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. liv. §6 The..offices of that mysticall administration..which he voluntarily vnder-tooke. a1628Preston Effectual Faith (1630) 8 There⁓fore they vndertake the businesse, they goe about the enterprize, and it comes to naught. 1654Gataker Disc. Apol. 53 [They] are readie to undertake more than they are able to undergo, or to go through with. 1717Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to Pope 1 April, I have gone a journey not undertaken by any Christian for some hundred years. 1781Cowper Table-T. 284 They, that fight for freedom, undertake The noblest cause mankind can have at stake. 1831Scott Ct. Rob. xviii, What is the enterprise too bold to be undertaken on such a condition! 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest xvii, I hope you will undertake the post which I now offer you. 1874Green Short Hist. vi. §4 (1882) 306 Colet..was the first to undertake the reform of the Church.
ellipt.1605Camden Rem. 3 If any one would vndertake the honour and precedence of Britaine before other Realmes in serious manner. 1655Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. 37 His friends..desired him to æstimate it at 50. minæ, promising to undertake the sum.
b. Const. to with inf. (Sometimes implying a solemn pledge or promise: cf. next.)
a1300Cursor M. 3409 Now es god at vnder tak Þe store tell [Gött. stori to tell] of ysaac. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 71, I ne haue nat vndyr-take As of the lef a-gayn the flour to make. 1390Gower Conf. I. 151 He..seith that he wol undertake Upon hire wordes forto stonde. c1440Generydes 3175 Among your knyghtez all that ther is on Shall vnder take to Answer for this lande. 1494in Lett. Rich. III & Hen. VII (Rolls) I. 389 Diuers noble personnes hanne enterprised and undertaked to hold a justis roiall. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 259, I wold first vndertake to geue ye charge vpon thennemy wt ii legions. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. iii. ii. 38 Then you must vndertake to slander him. 1637W. Saltonstall Eusebius' Constantine 26 Constantine had undertooke..to free the Christians from his tyranny. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 935, I alone first undertook To wing the desolate Abyss. 1712Blackmore Creation v. 281 That matter..in the immense from endless ages strove, The Stagyrite thus undertakes to prove. 1754J. Shebbeare Matrimony (1766) II. 259 Without this Power the Mother-in-Law would scarce have undertook to have trafficed in the commerce of a Son committed to her care. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxvi, Wayland and she followed in silence the deputy-usher, who undertook to be their conductor. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxi. 150 A porter..undertook to conduct me to one of the adjacent glaciers.
c. To give a formal promise or pledge that; to take upon oneself to promise or affirm; to venture to assert.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints vii. (Jacob) 606 Wil þu vndirta Þat I and þai þat are with me, In gud fath sal vnschait be? 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xxi. 20 Loue haþ vndertake That þis iesus of hus gentrise shal Iouste in peers Armes. c1450Mirk's Festial 13 He wold vndyrtake þat þay schuld want ryght noght of hor mette. 15..Adam Bel cxxx, I dare vndertake for them That true men they shal be. 1530Palsgr. 767/2, I dare undertake that he hath sayd nothynge but he wyll parforme it. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 230, I..vnder⁓take, that this communicacion shal sorte, and come to suche an effecte, that [etc.]. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 63 Sir Richard Moryson (..whom he would vndertake to be as worthy in his profession, as any of his time). a1649Winthrop New Eng. (1825) I. 145 Mr. Maverick came and undertook that the offenders should be forthcoming. a1715Burnet Own Time (1766) II. 49 He undertook to me, that the King should ask me no question. 1829Scott Anne of G. xxxi, I have ridden..to present you with this letter,..having undertaken to your father that it should be delivered without delay. 1895Funk's Stand. Dict. s.v., I'll undertake I can run faster than you.
d. I (dare) undertake, added to a statement.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 108 Þei two, as Ich hope.., Schul wisse þe to Dowel, I dar vndertake. a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 175 Wel coude he peynte, I vndirtake, That sich ymage coude make. a1400Pistill of Susan 208 Ȝit schal trouþe hem a-taynt, I dar vnder-take. 1447O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 18 The fals goddys doth ye forsake,..Wych be not ellys, I undyrtake, But gold or sylvyr, stonys or tre. c1480Henryson Fables, Lion & Mouse 128 Thy fals excuse..Sall not auaill ane myte, I vnderta. 1821Scott Kenilw. i, You have gallants among you, I dare undertake, that have made the Virginia voyage.
e. With ellipse of inf. or obj. clause.
c1440Generides 7006 A rich woman I shal you make, That dar I wel vndretake. 1638Hamilton Papers (Camden) 2 They [were] injoyned to dou ther best, and to goe presentely home, which they undertuck. 1651Nicholas Papers (Camden) 257 Hee himselfe goes into Plimouth till all the articles be confirmed by Act of Parliament, which they have under⁓taken.
† f. To guarantee to cure. Obs.
1479Stonor Lett. (1919) II. 88 And [= if] he may kepe him alive till Tuesday none, he will undertake him. 1480Ibid. 100 The ffesisicion wolle do his cunnyng uppon me, but undertake me he wol not.
†g. To be surety for. Obs.—1
1597Shakes. Lover's Compl. 280 Lending..credent soul to that strong-bonded oath That shall prefer and undertake my troth.
5. To take in charge; to accept the duty of attending to or looking after.
c1300Havelok 377 [They] seyden, he moucthe hem [sc. the children] best loke, Yif þat he hem vndertoke. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13112 Þe kyng dide his prisons loke Wiþ wardeyns þat hem vndertoke. 1382Wyclif Ps. iii. 6, I sleep, and was a slepe, and ful out ros; for the Lord vndertoc me. c1440Gesta Rom. lxi. 251 (Harl. MS.), Thow shalt bid me..to kepe welle thi suster... And I shalle thenne vndir-take hir. 1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. i. 97 To th' water side I must conduct your Grace: Then giue my Charge vp to Sir Nicholas Vaux, Who vndertakes you to your end. 1629Donne Serm. 308 The Holy Ghost undertakes every man amongst us and would make every man fit for Gods service. 1658Whole Duty Man Pref. A 8, If a Physician should undertake a patient that were in some desperate disease, and by his skill bring him..out of it. 1795Jemima I. 60 Mrs. Wellon declared her readiness to undertake her. 1814Byron Lett. (1875) 436, I am going to be married... Miss Milbanke is the good-natured person who has under⁓taken me. 1846Trench Mirac. xiii. (1862) 240 He was rather chasing away diseases..than Himself undertaking them. 1892‘H. S. Merriman’ Slave of Lamp xv, It fell to Hilda's lot to undertake the Frenchman.
b. To engage with, enter into combat with.
1470–85Malory Arthur xix. x. 788 Syre Vrre..and sir Alphegus..encountred to gyders for veray enuy, and soo eyther vndertook other to the Vtteraunce. 1616B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. iv, Sir, he shall yeeld you all the honor of a competent aduersarie, if you please to vnder-take him. 1667Denham Direct. Paint. i. xvi. 4 As if in our reproach, the Wind and Seas Would undertake the Dutch, while we take ease.
c. To take in hand to deal with (a person).
1601Shakes. Twel. N. i. iii. 61 By my troth I would not vndertake her in this company. Is that the meaning of Accost? 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. iv. iv. §32 The King casually coming thither.., undertook the Priest himself, though we never read before of his Majesties disputing. 1683Cave Ecclesiastici, Athanasius 58 An ancient Confessor,..unskill'd in the Tricks and Methods of disputing,..offered himself to undertake him.
†6. To assume, take to oneself. Obs.
1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. ii. 106 You are like to Sir Vincentio. His name and credite shal you vndertake. 1596Warner Alb. Eng. x. lv. (1602) 243 Whilst she, in France, did vndertake our royall Armes and Stile. 1608Topsell Serpents 115 It changeth..alwayes into the colour of that which is next it, except red and white, which colours it cannot easily vndertake.
7. To conduct the funeral of.
1900Blackw. Mag. Jan. 97/1 Urijah..gave a notable proof of his filial affection, by gracefully and successfully ‘under⁓taking’ his father.
II. intr.
†8. To enter upon, commit oneself to, an enterprise. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 405 Hardy he was and wys to vnder⁓take. c1470Henry Wallace v. 532 He was the man that pryncipall wndirtuk, That fyrst compild in dyt the Latyne buk. 1603B. Jonson Sejanus iv. iii, No ill should force the subject undertake Against the sovereign. 1639S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 215 The sonne-in-law undertakes against the father in law, and the brothers are at division.
9. To give a pledge or promise; to enter into a compact or contract.
c1475Rauf Coilȝear 572 Schir Rolland..left the Coilȝear to cum, as he had vndertane. 1608[see underwrite v. 2 absol.]. 1667Milton P.L. x. 74 The worst on mee must light,..for so I undertook Before thee. 1671― P.R. ii. 129, I, as I undertook,..Have found him.
10. To become surety or security, to make oneself answerable or responsible, for a person, fact, etc.
1548Elyot, Spondere pro aliquo, to vndertake for one. 1586J. Hooker Irel. in Holinshed II. 131/1 He brought also his two other brethren, for whome he had vndertaken. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. i. i. 436 But on mine honour dare I vndertake For good Lord Titus innocence in all. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 323 He..confessed hee would vndertake for the Wolfe, if they would set him at liberty. 1655M. Casaubon Enthus. (1656) 294 It shall not trouble me, who undertake not for the truth of it. 1690Locke Toleration ii. Wks. 1727 II. 277 You undertake for the Success of this method, if rightly used. 1713Arbuthnot John Bull iii. v, She..undertook for her brother John's good behaviour. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1879) II. 865/2 It was he who had principally undertaken for the obedience of the Argives. 1817Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. v. 162 Clive undertaking for his security, Dooloob Ram joined the camp. 1880Froude Bunyan 69 His friends undertook for his appearance when he should be required.
b. To engage oneself in a promise for.
a1715Burnet Own Time I. 393 As there was no reason that..any discontents could be carried so far as to a general rising, which these men undertook for. 1790Bruce Source Nile I. 260, I sailed with..three passengers, instead of one, for whom only I had undertaken. 1827Hallam Const. Hist. vi. I. 367 Bacon..laughed at the chimerical notion, that private men should undertake for all the commons of England.
11. colloq. To carry on the business of a funeral undertaker. (Cf. 7.)
1891Cent. Dict. |