Verb

(head)

(undertake)

Verb

(label) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.).

*(John Milton) (1608-1674)

*:To second, or oppose, or undertake / The perilous attempt.

(label) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).

:

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:I'll undertake to land them on our coast.

(label) To overtake on the wrong side.

:

To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.

*, Bk.VII:

*:"I have now aspyed one knyght," he seyde, "that woll play hys play at the justys, I undirtake ."

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:And those two counties I will undertake / Your grace shall well and quietly enjoiy.

*(John Dryden) (1631-1700)

*:And he was not right fat, I undertake .

* (1665-1728)

*:I dare undertake they will not lose their labour.

To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.

*:

*:there came fourty knyghtes to sire Darras // So sire Tristram endured there grete payne / for sekenesse had vndertake hym / and that is the grettest payne a prysoner maye haue

(label) To assume, as a character; to take on.

:(Shakespeare)

(label) To engage with; to attack.

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:It is not fit your lordship should undertake every companion that you give offence to.

(label) To have knowledge of; to hear.

:(Spenser)

(label) To have or take charge of.

*(Geoffrey Chaucer) (c.1343-1400)

*:Keep well those that ye undertake .

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:who undertakes you to your end

Verb

(head)

(oblige)

----

Verb

(oblig)

To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

I am obliged to report to the police station every week.

{{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3 , Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.}}

To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).

He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.

*

To be indebted to someone.

I am obliged to you for your recent help.

To do a service or favour.

The singer obliged with another song.