Task

n. [O. & Prov. Fr. tasque, N. Fr. tâche, for tasche, Catal. & Prov. It. tasca, Pr. tasca, tascha, L. Lat. tasca, taxa, from Lat. taxare, to rate, appraise, estimate; W. tasg, Gael. & Ir. taisg. Cf. TAX.]

1. Business or study imposed by another, often a definite quantity or amount of labor. “My task of servile toil.” Milton.
2. Business; employment; undertaking. His mental powers were equal to greater tasks. Atterbury.
3. Burdensome employment.
4. A lesson; a fixed portion of study imposed by a teacher; as, the boys were at their tasks.

To take to task, to reprove; to reprimand; as, to take one to task for idleness. Syn. — Work; labor; employment; business; study; toil; drudgery.

[imp. & p. p. TASKED (tāskt); p. pr. & vb. n. TASKING.] [See supra.] 1. To impose a task upon; to assign to a definite amount of business or labor. There task thy maids, and exercise the loom. Dryden.

2. To oppress with severe or excessive burdens.
3. To charge upon; to tax. [Rare.] “Too impudent to task me with errors.” Beau. & Fl.