task (subs.) Copy link Outline 1. pensum (prop. the wool weighed out for a day's spinning2. ŏpus, ĕris, n. (work to be done)3. nĕgōtium (business) • task (subs.): 1. pensum (prop. the wool weighed out for a day's spinning: hence, work assigned): to assign a t., p. imperare, Quint. 3, 7, 6: to perform one's t., p. facere, Pl. Merc. 2, 3, 62: conficere, ib. Pers. 2, 4, 1: peragere, Col. 3, 10, 7: absolvere, Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 1: to perform a t. scrupulously, p. accurare, Pl. Bac. 5, 2, 36. Fig.: I will recall myself to my duty and t., me ad meum munus et p. revocabo, Cic. de Or. 3, 30, 119. 2. ŏpus, ĕris, n. (work to be done): a great and difficult t., magnum o. et difficile, Cic. Tusc. 3, 34, 84: to have a t. to perform, o. debere, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 21: to appoint the t.s for the whole day, o. in totum diem ordinare, Quint. 1, 2, 12: their toil at their t., operum labores, Virg. Aen. 1, 455: to perform one's t., opus efficere, Cic. Top. 16, 62; conficere, id. Fragm. in Col. 12, 1, 3. Join: efficere et navare, id. Att. 9, 11: this is the t., this the toil, hoc opus, hic labor est, Virg. Aen. 6, 129: v. undertaking. 3. nĕgōtium (business): to undertake a t., n. suscipere, Cic. Cat. 3, 2, 5: either to finish or relinquish the t., n. aut conficere, aut deponere, id. Att. 7, 5, ad fin.: to assign any one the t. of ..., dare alicui n. ut ..., Caes. B. G. 2, 2: v. business. Phr.: strength equal to the t., vires quae sufficiunt labori, Quint. 10, 3, 3: to take to t., objurgare: v. chide, reprove.