undertake

Etymology

From Middle English undertaken; equivalent to under- + take (after undernim).

verb

1. (transitive) To take upon oneself; to start, to embark on (a specific task etc.).
2. (intransitive) To commit oneself (to an obligation, activity etc.).
   He undertook to exercise more in future.
3. (Britain, informal) To pass a slower moving vehicle on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic.
4. (archaic, intransitive) To pledge; to assert, assure; to dare say.
   […] if those Persons who are curious in collecting either Minerals, or the Shells, Teeth, or other Parts of Animal Bodies that have been buried in the Earth, do but search the Hills after Rains, and the Sea-Shores after Storms, I dare undertake they will not lose their Labour. 1695, John Woodward, An Essay towards a Natural History of the Earth and Terrestrial Bodies, London: Richard Wilkin, Part 4, pp. 222-223
5. (obsolete, transitive) To take by trickery; to trap, to seize upon.
6. (obsolete) To assume, as a character; to take on.
7. (obsolete) To engage with; to attack, take on in a fight.
   Soo it happend in Spayne there was an Erles sone his name was Alphegus / and at a grete turnement in spayn this syre Vrre knyghte of Hongry and sir Alphegus of spayne encountred to gyders for veray enuy / and soo eyther vndertook other to the Vtteraunce. "So it happened in Spain there was an earl’s son, his name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in Spain this Sir Urre, knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus of Spain encountered together for very envy; and so either undertook other to the utterance." 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XIX, Chapter x, leaf 394v
8. (obsolete) To have knowledge of; to hear.
9. (obsolete) To have or take charge of.

noun

1. (Britain, informal) The passing of slower traffic on the curbside rather than on the side closest to oncoming traffic.