task
UK: tɑːsk | US: tæsk
n. a piece of work to be done or undertaken
vt. to assign a piece of work to someone
The word "task" originates from the Old French "tasque," meaning a tax or duty imposed as work. It entered Middle English in the 13th century, retaining its sense of assigned labor. The spelling evolved slightly, but the core idea of an imposed or delegated piece of work persisted. The morpheme "tas" reflects its historical link to obligations, while the modern form "task" streamlined the spelling without altering the fundamental meaning.
She completed the task before the deadline.
The manager tasked the team with a new project.
Daily chores can feel like endless tasks.
He found the task challenging but rewarding.
The software automates repetitive tasks.