underfang

Meaning

Verb

• To undertake.
• To accept; receive.
• To insnare; entrap; deceive by false suggestions.
• To support or guard from beneath.

Origin

• From Middle English underfangen, underfongen, undervongen, from Old English underfōn ("to receive, obtain, take, accept, take in, entertain, take up, undertake, assume, adopt, submit to, undergo, steal"), from Proto-Germanic *under + *fanhaną, equivalent to under- + fang. Cognate with Dutch ondervangen ("to overcome, forestall"), German unterfangen ("to venture, dare").