Middle English Dictionary Entry
tasken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | tasken v. |
| Etymology | From task(e n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. taxen v.
1.
(a) To impose a tax upon (sb., someone's goods); assess fines for (sth.); (b) refl. ?to impose tasks upon (oneself).
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1600 : Shuld þay..compte alle þe costz..And taske al þe trespas..Thay wolde cesse sum tyme for sheding of þaire siluer.
- (1462-3) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.523b : Alle foreneres fischermenne..fyschyng here..shall pay to the commone scotte of here fysche merchaunt, to be taskyd, as for catell.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.64vb : He shal taske and dyme [L (Vulg. 1 Sam.8.15): addecimabit] your corn and sheues and the rentes of your vynyerdes he shal value for to gyue to his offycers.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.64vb : Your flockes of sheep he shal taske & take the tenthe or what shal plese hym.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)487 : Taskyd [Hrl 221: Taxyd: Taxatus, capiticensus].
b
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)140 : Þe wyse mon liueþ withouten blame, ffor he con wel hym taske.