Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (I) Individual Volition
Section II. Prospective Volition
3. Precursory Measures
676. Undertaking.
NOUN:
UNDERTAKING; compact [See Compact]; adventure, venture; engagement (promise) [See Promise]; enterprise, emprise or emprize [archaic]; pilgrimage; matter in hand (business) [See Business]; move; first move (beginning) [See Beginning].
VERB:
UNDERTAKE; engage -, embark- in; launch -, plunge- into; volunteer; apprentice oneself to; engage (promise) [See Promise]; contract [See Compact]; take upon -oneself, - one’s shoulders; devote oneself to (determination) [See Resolution].
TAKE UP, take on, take in hand; tackle [colloq.]; set -, go- about; set -, fall- -to, - to work; launch forth; break the ice; set up shop; put in -hand, - execution; set forward; break the neck of a -day’s work, - business; be in for [colloq.]; put one’s hand to; betake oneself to, turn one’s hand to, go to do; be in the midst of; begin [See Beginning]; broach, institute (originate) [See Cause]; put -, lay- one’s -hand to the plow, - shoulder to the wheel.
have in hand (business) [See Business]; have many irons in the fire (activity) [See Activity].
ADJECTIVE:
UNDERTAKING &c. v.; on the anvil [See Business]; available, receptive; full of pep [slang], energetic; adventurous, venturesome.
INTERJECTION:
here goes! shoot! [colloq.].
QUOTATIONS:
Nowher so besy a man as he ther n’as, And yet he semed besier than he was.—Chaucer
