take, in hand, undertake, attempt, to make an attempt, beginning
take a thing in hand, undertake, attempt, c. dat.rei, E. Med. 377, X. Vect. 6.1, etc.: later, c. acc. rei, ἔργον PPetr. 2p.37 (iii B.C.): c. inf., Pl. Prt. 310c, X. Mem. 2.3.12, etc.; τὸν ἐγχειρήσαντα συκοφαντεῖν Hyp. Eux. 34: abs., to make an attempt or beginning, S. El. 1026, Th. 4.4, etc.
2 lay hands on, attack
lay hands on, attack, πόλεσι ib. 122: abs., X. HG 4.5.16; πρὸς τὰ κατὰ τοὺς πολεμίους Plb. 2.22.11.
3 put hand to
put hand to a case requiring medical treatment, τινί Hp. de Arte 3; τῇσι νούσοισιν ib. 13.
4 try oneʼs hand, to be discussed
try oneʼs hand in argument, εἰς ἑκάτερον Plu. Cic. 21:— Pass., to be discussed, Id. QConv. 2.687e codd.
II take in hand
in late Poets, take in hand, c. acc., ἔργον Epigr.Gr. 1038.36.—ἐπιχειρέω is more common in Att.