n. [ OE. taske, OF. tasque, F. tâche, for tasche, LL. tasca, taxa, fr. L. taxare to rate, appraise, estimate. See Tax, n. & v. ]
Ma task of servile toil. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]
His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]
To take to task.
v. t.
There task thy maids, and exercise the loom. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Too impudent to task me with those errors. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
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. ]
n. Work done as a task; also, work done by the job; piecework. [ 1913 Webster ]