to deceive, to swindle (whence a take-in (Bee) = fraud, humbug); (2) = to believe; (3) = to capture, subdue, seize (B. E); to take off = (1) to kill (taking-off = death); (2) = to ridicule, to mimic (take-off = a caricature); to take out = to copy; to take on (or by) = (1) to grieve, to show emotion (hence taking = a to-do); and (2) = to simulate; to take one (or a matter) on = (1) to engage, to accept as an opponent, (2) to undertake; to take to (or up) = generic for doing (e.g., to take to gambling, early rising, women, etc.); to take to one's legs (a shute, water, etc.) = to fly: see heels, adding quots. infra; to take up (old = to take) = (1) to arrest; (2) to stop; (3) to reform; (4) to clear up (prov. of the weather); (5) to protect, to defend; (6) to borrow; (7) to rally, to snub; and (8) to understand; to take upon = to suspect; to take upon oneself = to arrogate authority, dignity, etc.; to take with = to side with; to take up with = (1) to consort with; (2) to court; (3) to endure; and (4) to adopt; to take the gloss off = to detract in value; to take the field = to bet against the favourite; to take up one's connections (Amer. Univ.) = to leave college; to take an oath = to take a drink; to take one along (or with one) = to make understand; to take one's teeth to anything = to set to heartily; to take a stick to = to beat; to take (or sit at) one's ease in one's inn = to enjoy oneself: as if one were at home (hence, taking it easy = drunk); take it as you like = be angry or not—as you please (Bee). Also (proverbial) 'To take from one's right side to give to one's left'; 'To take one up before he is down' 'To take the bird by the feet'; 'Take all, and pay the baker'; 'To take a Burford bait' (= to get drunk); 'To take a dagger and drown oneself'; 'To take a hair (q.v.) of the same dog'; 'To take a thing in snuff' (q.v.); 'To take a wrong sou (q.v.) by the ear'; 'To take counsel of one's pillow'; 'To take heart of grace'; 'To take Hector's cloak' (= to deceive a friend); 'To take one a peg (q.v.) lower'; 'to take physic before one is sick'; 'Who takes an eel by the tail and a woman by her word, may say, that he holds nothing.' See Huff; Pepper; Tea.
c.1440. Merlin [E. E. T. S.], i. 13. As soone as the Iuges knowe ther-of, they well make yow to be take for couetyse of your londes and herytage, and do Iustice vpon yow.
1470. Rev. Monk Evesham. [Arber], 72. [Oliphant, New Eng. i. 322. Take stands for intelligere, as in our 'I take it.']
1530. Palsgrave, Lang. Francoyse, etc. [Halliwell, s.v. Sterracles]. I take onne, as one dothe that playeth his sterakels, je tempeste. Ibid. Take him up (= reprove).
1569-70. Wit and Science [Dodsley, Old Plays (Hazlitt), ii. 350]. Marry, sir, indeed she talks and takes on her, Like a dame, nay like a duchess or a queen.
. . . Political Poems [E. E. T. S.], 73. Of verry righte he may be called trewe, and soo muste he be take in every place.
. . . Bacon, Holy War [Century]. You take me right, Eupolis.
1591. Greene, Farw. to Folly [Steevens], The beggar Irus that haunted the palace of Penelope, would take his ease in his inne, as well as the peers of Ithaca.
1593. Peele, Edward I., p. 395. I'll take you down a button-hole.
