*task*

v. t. To task too heavily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. tâche, 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 servile toil. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Business; employment; undertaking; labor. [ 1913 Webster ]

His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

To take to task. See under Take. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Work; labor; employment; business; toil; drudgery; study; lesson; stint. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 with severe or excessive burdens; to tax. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To charge; to tax, as with a fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

Too impudent to task me with those errors. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who imposes a task. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who performs a task, as a day-laborer. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A laborer who receives his wages in kind. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who imposes a task, or burdens another with labor; one whose duty is to assign tasks; an overseer. Ex. i. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Polit. Econ.) A wage paid by the day, or some fixed period, on condition that a minimum task be performed. When the workman is paid in proportion for excess over the minimum, the wage is one for piece-work. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]