Undertaken
/ˌʌndərˈteɪkən/noun
Past participle of undertake, meaning having agreed or committed to do something.
Did you know?Undertake comes from Old English where take could mean to seize or receive, so the word originally carries the energy of taking something up under your charge rather than just “doing a task.”
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
undertecān
“to take upon oneself; to accept or assume a task”
Middle English
ME
undertaken
“to take in hand; to commit oneself to an action”
Middle English
ME
undertaken (past participle)
“taken upon oneself; assumed or attempted”
Modern English
English
undertaken
“taken on, attempted, or agreed to do”