task

task
task c.1300, "piece of work imposed as a duty," from O.N.Fr. tasque (13c., O.Fr. tasche, Fr. táche) "duty, tax," from V.L. *tasca "a duty, assessment," metathesis of M.L. taxa, a back-formation of L. taxare "to evaluate, estimate, assess" (see TAX (Cf. tax)). General sense of "any piece of work that has to be done" is first recorded 1590s. Verb "to put a strain upon" is from 1590s. Phrase take one to task (1680s) preserves the sense that is closer to TAX (Cf. tax). Ger. tasche "pocket" is from the same V.L. source (via O.H.G. tasca), with presumable sense evolution from "amount of work imposed by some authority," to "payment for that work," to "wages," to "pocket into which money is put," to "any pocket."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • task — [tɑːsk ǁ tæsk] noun [countable] 1. a piece of work that must be done, especially one that must be done regularly: • Scheduling is a key task for most managers. • day to day management tasks • computers that can do dozens of tasks at the same time …   Financial and business terms

  • Task — may refer to: Task analysis Task (project management) Task (computing), in computing, a program execution context TASK party, a series of improvisational participatory art related events organized by artist Oliver Herring Task (language… …   Wikipedia

  • task — [task, täsk] n. [ME taske < NormFr tasque (OFr tasche) < ML tasca, for taxa, a tax < L taxare, to rate, value, TAX] 1. a piece of work assigned to or demanded of a person 2. any piece of work 3. an undertaking involving labor or… …   English World dictionary

  • Task — Task, der; [e]s, s [engl. task = Aufgabe < mengl. taske < afrz. tasche, über das Vlat. < mlat. taxa, ↑ Taxe] (EDV): in sich geschlossene Aufgabe, dargestellt durch einen Teil eines Programms od. ein ganzes Programm. * * * Task   [dt.… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Task — Task, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tasked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tasking}.] 1. To impose a task upon; to assign a definite amount of business, labor, or duty to. [1913 Webster] There task thy maids, and exercise the loom. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To oppress …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Task — (t[.a]sk), n. [OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. t[^a]che, for tasche, LL. tasca, taxa, fr. L. taxare to rate, appraise, estimate. See {Tax}, n. & v.] 1. Labor or study imposed by another, often in a definite quantity or amount. [1913 Webster] Ma task of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • task — ► NOUN ▪ a piece of work to be done. ► VERB 1) (task with) assign (a task) to. 2) make great demands on. ● take to task Cf. ↑take to task …   English terms dictionary

  • task — task, duty, assignment, job, stint, chore are comparable when they mean a piece of work which one is asked to do and is expected to accomplish. Task refers to a specific piece of work or service usually imposed by authority or circumstance but… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • task — task·er; task; task·mas·ter·ship; mul·ti·task; …   English syllables

  • task — /task / (say tahsk) noun 1. a definite piece of work assigned or falling to a person; a duty. 2. any piece of work. 3. a matter of considerable labour or difficulty. 4. Obsolete a tax or impost. –verb (t) 5. to subject to severe or excessive… …  

  • task — n the performance that is required of the subject in a psychological experiment or test and that is usu. communicated to a human subject by verbal instructions …   Medical dictionary

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