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partake

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

Back-formation from Middle English part-takinge, part-takynge (“a sharing; partaking”), a calque of Latin particeps (“participating”); equivalent to part +‎ take. Compare take part. In the sense of taking a share or portion of something, displaced native Old English onbītan (“to taste of, to partake of”).

Pronunciation

Verb

partake (third-person singular simple present partakes, present participle partaking, simple past partook, past participle partaken) (intransitive)

  1. (formal) To take part in an activity; to participate. [with in]
  2. (formal) To take a share or portion. [with of or in]
    Will you partake of some food?
    • 1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 17”, in The Secret Adversary:
      The steak and chips partaken of for lunch seemed now to belong to another decade. He regretfully recognized the fact that he would not make a success of a hunger strike.
  4. (archaic) To have something of the properties, character, or office. [with of]
    • c. 1620, Francis Bacon, letter of advice to Sir George Villiers
      the Attorney of the Duchy of Lancaster , who partakes of both qualities, partly of a judge in the court, and partly of an attorney-general
    • 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 1107:
      The people are encouraged to perceive their liberation in historic terms and to trust that new events will partake of past glories.

Translations

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