From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Task \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.
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Ma task of servile toil. --Milton.
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Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close. --Longfellow.
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2. Business; employment; undertaking; labor.
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His mental powers were equal to greater tasks.
--Atterbury.
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To take to task. See under Take.
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Syn: Work; labor; employment; business; toil; drudgery;
study; lesson; stint.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
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There task thy maids, and exercise the loom.
--Dryden.
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2. To oppress with severe or excessive burdens; to tax.
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3. To charge; to tax, as with a fault.
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Too impudent to task me with those errors. --Beau. &
Fl.
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