▪ I. to-do, a.
Brit. /tʊˈduː/, U.S. /təˈdu/
[‹ to prep. + do v.]
Designating a (notional) list of tasks requiring attention or completion, often organized in order of priority. Also: relating to such a list.
| 1921 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Jrnl. 6 Nov. iii. 2/8 Again she consulted her ‘To Do’ list. 1957 Sunday Times Signal (Zanesville, Ohio) 12 May ii. 7/5 Modernizing of the basement into a rumpus room should be high on the to-do list. 1983 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 12 July c5/1 Shoebox [sc. an electronic organizer] deals with appointments, to-do reminders and expenses. 1994 What PC? Oct. 27/1 A..Personal Information Manager, is a product designed to combine the functions of diary, address book, scratch pad, to-do list, and so on. 2002 A. Behrman Electroboy (2003) p. xiv, I stash my to-do list in my pocket and buy..a round of drinks for a group of faceless people across the bar. |
▪ II. † to-ˈdo, v. Obs.
[OE. to-dón, f. to-2 + dón to do, to put. Cf. MHG. zertuon.]
trans. a. To put asunder, divide, separate. b. To undo, open.
| a 839 Penit. Laws Ecgbert ii. c. 11 ᵹif hwylc wif tweᵹen ᵹebroðru nimð hire to ᵹemæccan, oþerne æfter oþrum, to-do man hiᵹ. a 900 Ags. Ps. (Th.) xxi. 11 Hi todydon heora muð onᵹean me. a 1000 Ags. Hexameron St. Basil iv. (1849) 8 Ðæt wæter and seo eorðe wæron ᵹemengede oð ðone ðriddan dæᵹ; ða todyde hi God. c 1205 Lay. 2945 Ic wlle mine riche to-don..& twemen mine bearnen. Ibid. 6507 And þat deor to-dede [c 1275 vndude] his chæfles..And for-bat hine amidden a twa. |