An archaic term meaning to assign a task or duty to someone; to task or burden.
From at- (prefix) + task. This Old English/Middle English formation literally meant 'to put a task upon,' but it fell out of use as simpler forms like 'task' became standard.
Medieval English loved prefixing 'at-' to verbs (attask, attaint, attempt) to mean 'put someone in that state'—it's a grammar pattern that almost completely disappeared, leaving us with only a few survivors.
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