Past tense of undertake; began or committed to a task, project, or responsibility.
From Middle English undertaken, literally meaning 'to take under' or 'to take upon oneself.' Composed of under- (indicating assumption of responsibility) and take. The sense evolved from physically taking something underneath to accepting a burden or commitment.
The word 'undertook' literally means 'took under,' which perfectly captures how we shoulder responsibilities - we take them under our care and protection. This same root gives us 'undertaker,' originally anyone who undertook a task, but now specifically associated with funeral directors who 'undertake' final arrangements.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.