Search the Dictionary

Voluntarily taken on one's self; as, self-imposed tasks.

to instigate. "Thou, traitor, hast set on thy wife to this." Shak. (b) To employ, as in a task. " Set on thy wife to observe." Shak. (c) To fix upon; to attach strongly to; as, to set one's heart or affections on some object. See definition 2, above. -- To set one's cap for. See under Cap, n. -- To set one's self aga…

w; to advance; as, to shoot up rapidly. Well shot in years he seemed. Spenser. Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot. Thomson.

nt contends is right. Pope. They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. Jowett (Thucyd.)

mple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.

to roll to the top of a hill a huge stone, which constantly rolled back again, making his task incessant.

nse 2), or widow. The players bid for the privilege of attempting any of several games or tasks, in most of which the player undertaking the game must take tricks counting in aggregate at least 61 (the counting cards being ace 11, ten 10, king 4, queen 3, jack 2). The four jacks are the best trumps, ranking club, spade…

-- Slave driver, one who superintends slaves at their work; hence, figuratively, a cruel taskmaster. -- Slave hunt. (a) A search after persons in order to reduce them to slavery. Barth. (b) A search after fugitive slaves, often conducted with bloodhounds. -- Slave ship, a vessel employed in the slave trade or used f…

To make a pretense of doing something, or of performing any task. [Colloq.U.S.]

designated; a certain indefinite thing; an indeterminate or unknown event; an unspecified task, work, or thing. There is something in the wind. Shak. The whole world has something to do, something to talk of, something to wish for, and something to be employed about. Pope. Something attemped, something done, Has earned…

To assign a certain (i. e., limited) task to (a person), upon the performance of which one is excused from further labor for the day or for a certain time; to stent.

to be solicitous. Matt. vi. 25, 27. -- To take to heart. See under Heart. -- To take to task, to reprove; to censure. -- to take to the air, to take off. To take up. (a) To lift; to raise. Hood. (b) To buy or borrow; as, to take up goods to a large amount; to take up money at the bank. (c) To begin; as, to take up a…

A task exacted from one who is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.

Not obtaining or deserving thanks; unacceptable; as, a thankless task. To shepherd thankless, but by thieves that love the night allowed. Chapman. -- Thank"less*ly, adv. -- Thank"less*ness, n.

Labor with pain and fatigue; labor that oppresses the body or mind, esp. the body. My task of servile toil. Milton. After such bloody toil, we bid good night. Shak.

; trifling; petty; paltry; as, a trivial subject or affair. The trivial round, the common task. Keble.

n three times as much when he is in tune, as when he . . . is dragged unwillingly to [his task]. Locke.

Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided; as, versatile genius; a versatile politician. Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . . was the quick and versatile [Charles] Montagu. Macaulay.

I care not for my spirits if my legs were not weary. Shak. [I] am weary, thinking of your task. Longfellow.

sound, or series of notes, from the mouth or beak, as birds. The weary plowman leaves the task of day, And, trudging homeward, whistles on the way. Gay.