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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Underta(k, v. Also: under-, wnder-, undir-, wndir-, undyr-, wndyr-, -re-, wyndyr-, onder- and -ta, -tak(e, -tack, -taik, -tane. P.t. under-, wnder-, wndre-, undir-, undyr- and -tuk(e, -tuik, -teuk, -tuck, -took(e. P.p. under-, wnder-, wndre-, undir-, undyr-; onder- and -tan(e, -tain(e, -tayn, -teane, -dene, -taken, -takyn, -tackin, -tackne, -take. [ME and e.m.E. unnderrtakenn (Orm), vnderta, vndertak, vndir-take (all Cursor M.), p.t. vndertoke (Havelok), p.p. vndertaken (Cursor M.), vndyr-take (Chaucer); Ta(k v.] tr.

1. To take on (something), as a task or assignment; to assume, take up (a responsibility); to enter upon, commence (an action). Also const. on (upone) (oneself).pres. 1375 Barb. vi 348 (C).
Vorschip … takis that is till vndirta [E. wnderta] And levis that is to leif c1475 Wall. xi 266.
The king … Rewid … at it was hapnyt sa, Sa lewd a deid to lat him wndyrta(b) 1375 Barb. xiv 506.
That swa quhone durst on ony wis Wndretak [C. wndertak] sa hey enprys ?1438 Alex. i 1090.
Mony worthy man … Reddie to smyte … And vndertak full hie emprise 1490 Irland Mir. III 142/1.
Thai ar nocht of sa hie and noble curage to wndertak sic thingis to wyn glor 1513 Doug. ix iv heading.
Nysus carpis to his frend … Till vndyrtak [Sm. ondertak, Ruddim. vndertak] ane aventur onsilly 1513 Doug. xi vii 184.
Do vndyrtake [Sm. ondertak, Ruddim. vndertak] this thyng, and end the weir 1549 Compl. 15/17.
As is hyr vse to do to them that vndirtakkis difficil entrepricis 1570 Sempill in Sat. P. xii 109.
Had we ane heid wald stoutly vndertak it(c) c1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 109.
When [we] … did … first wndertaik the seruice [etc.] … they studied by all means to cros the earls aboue named and me in discharge of what we had wnderdene — a1540 Freiris Berw. 455 (M).
I dar nocht vndertak it vpone me 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 367.
Then lett him undertak the whole charge on himselfp.t. 1375 Barb. vi 271 (C).
The king, that with avisment Vndirtuk [E. wndertuk] sic hardyment, As for to stynt, him ane, but fer(b) 1650 Glasgow B. Rec. II 517.
Vnderteuk(c) 1647 Dunferm. Kirk S. 24.
Robert Sharpe … undertook the said warkp.p. 1375 Barb. v 331 (C).
Quhen this … Wes deuisit and vndirtane [E. wndertane] Ilkane till his hous is gane 1375 Barb. v 527 (C).
For [he], that he trowit mast of ane His dede falsly had vndirtane [E. wndertane] 1375 Barb. xvi 497.
Wndretane ?1438 Alex. ii 2852.
Than was that iorney thame amang Vndertane and sworne with aithis strang ?1438 Alex. ii 10991.
He hes great vndertane for ȝow [F. Moult a pour vous pené] c1475 Wall. vii 1137.
We haiff wndirtayn With les power, sic thing that weill is gayn 1609 Crim. Trials III 24.
That weightie chairge, quhilk ȝe have wndertaine againis the tratoris c1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 109 (see pres. (c) above).
Wnderdene(b) 1460 Ayr Chart. 34.
The said fayr thai haff wndertakyn wpon thare awyn expensis and ar bondyn til … kep yerli 1653 Binning Wks. (1841) 586.
I have undertaken your yoke and burden, why then do you laden yourselves any more with the apprehension of it? 1656 Rothesay B. Rec. 13.
Lykas the said James hes undertaken the charge of the said schole 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 57.
Undertackin 1681 Stair Inst. (1681) i x § 24 132.
In no case is the borrower oblieged for any accident, as death, naufrage, burning, unless he hath undertaken that hazard

b. To take on in battle, engage in combat with (an enemy, etc.). ?1438 Alex. i 2526.
Thair men micht se thame vnderta Stoutnes, and strenth encounterit pryde

c. absol. or intr. c1475 Wall. v 539.
He was the man that pryncipall wndirtuk, That fyrst compild … the Latyne buk Off Wallace lyff 1494 Deidis of Armorie 62.
He … wes a man … richt doubteus in his deidis and hardy, wndirtakand in parti of despens of vtheris c1620 Boyd Fl. Zion Exc. viii/1.
‘Mong all their worthies none durst undertak, In panick feare they soon did turn the back … Hee'le both us shame and will our God defy

2. To give an assurance or pledge, to promise (to do something, that something be done, or with clause object). Also const. indirect object.(1) (a) 1375 Barb. iii 662.
The king rycht weill resawyt he; And wndertuk his man to be 1375 Barb. vi 321.
He for thaim had wndretan [C. vndertane] With swa fele for to fecht [him] ane 1375 Barb. x 543 (C).
I vndirtak [E. wndertak] … to ken ȝow to clym the wall 1375 Barb. xvi 315.
The Irsche kingis … wndretuk in all-kyn thing For till obey a1400 Leg. S. iii 1025.
Vndertak a1400 Leg. S. xi 140.
Vndyrtuke ?1438 Alex. ii 8132.
I avow and vndertais To ga fute for fute with Perdicas c1420 Wynt. v 999 (C).
Gif he … walde … sekyrly hir wyndyrtak In honoure of hir for to mak A tempil fayr c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 63.
Quho suld be glad bot thou That suich a gyde to folow has vndertake? 1456 Hay I 3/5.
The resouns quhy I have undertane to mak this buke ar gude yneuch as semys me c1475 Wall. xi 212.
He seis nocht her bot he wald wndyrtak, Be his gret fors, to put to confusioun c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 483.
Talbart … cryit, gif he durst vndertak To ryn anis for his ladies saik 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10752.
The same to do we vndertuik 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 166.
Vnder teane 1624 Dunferm. Ann. 284.
Your Majesties auld servand hes … undertane to represent unto your Majestie [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset II 258/6.
Ane loidisman undertaketh to leid … ane schip to ane place [etc.] 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 260.
Undertack 1624 Elgin Rec. II 182.
James Layng hes wndertain to hald out the poor and strong beggeris … out of the kirk dor 1648 Inverness Rec. II 197.
Undertackin(b) 1560 Inverness Rec. I. 46.
Thir personis ... hes ondertane to dale wse and vyrk in thair buythis and mac gude schone (2) 1375 Barb. iii 744.
Thai … has him trewly wndertane That thai and thairis … Suld be in all thing at his will c1379 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 1.
Haf hecht & fermely vndyrtane till Alayne … that I sall gif hym my charter 1416 Liber Melros 539.
We vndirtakand to thaim … that the saide remowing of thair plvis at oure request sal gener thaim … na preivdice greve na damage a1500 Rauf C. 489.
I vndertuk thay suld be brocht This day c1475 Wall. iii 382.
Thar hardy chiftane … couth wndyrtak, Quhat Inglisman, that baid in till his gait, Contrar Scotland maid neuir mar debait a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1111.
I pray that thow wald vnderta With me vnto ȝon King that thow wald ga 1639 Tayler Hist. Fam. Urquhart 43.
It was undertackne that it should be so done 1658 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 146.
Vndertooke(3) a1500 Rauf C. 572.
Schir Rolland … left the coilȝear to cum, as he had vndertane 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 2.
They [were] injoyned to dou ther best, and to goe presentely home, which they undertuck

b. In parenthetic use: I guarantee, I assure you. 1375 Barb. i 292 (C).
In Ingland, I wndirta [E. wnderta], Wes nane off lyve that hym ne dred a1400 Leg. S. xl 85.
For is nane, I vndir-ta … sa fellone fa, As [etc.] ?1438 Alex. i 388.
Vndertake a1500 Henr. Fab. 1448.
Thy fals excuse … Sall not auaill ane myte, I vnderta a1500 Rauf C. 241.
And thow will cum to the court, this I vnderta, Thow sall haue [etc.] c1475 Wall. ix 81.
Bot off a thing I dar weill wndirtane, Thocht all war heyr the schippis … Part suld we los a1500 Seven S. 564.
The herd … clawit him softly on the bak Syne on the wame I wndertak 1513 Doug. i Prol. 336.
Reid quha hym knawys, I dar this vndertak [Sm. ondertak] Als oft as ȝe hym reid … Ȝhe fynd ilke tyme sum mery new consait