prefix, a. Fr. entre-:—L. inter (see INTER-), with senses ‘between,’ ‘among,’ ‘mutually.’ Occurring first in words a. Fr., as ENTERFEAT, ENTERMISE, ENTERPRISE, ENTERTAIN; also as an early variant of inter- in words ad. Lat. In 14–17th c. it was often prefixed to Eng. words, many of the compounds so formed being imitations of synonymous compounds in Fr. Since the middle of 17th c. this prefix has ceased to be employed in the formation of new words; the compounds (of Eng. origin) in which it occurs are either obs. or have been refashioned with inter-. The more important compounds of enter- will be found in their alphabetical place; the following are nonce-words or of rare occurrence:
Enter-advertise v. (Fr. s’entre-avertir), refl., to inform each other; enterbathe v. [cf. Fr. s’entrebaigner], refl., to bathe each other; enterbear v. [trans. Fr. s’entreporter], ? to carry mutually; enterbrace v., to embrace mutually; enterbraid v., to intertwine; enterbreak v. [cf. OF. entrerompre], trans., to break between, make a break in; enterbreath, breathing between; time for taking breath; entercall v. trans., to call mutually; entercapering vbl. sb., intermingled capering, intricate movement; entercarriage, carriage to and fro between two places; enterengender v. trans., to produce (each other) reciprocally; enterglancing vbl. sb., interchange of glances; entergrave v. trans., to engrave between; hence entergraving vbl. sb.; enterhinder v. trans., to hinder mutually; enterhold v. trans., to observe (a treaty) reciprocally; enterkissing ppl. a., mutually kissing; enterlend v. [cf. Fr. s’entreprêter] trans., to lend to one another; enterlove v. [cf. Fr. s’entr’aimer] trans., to love mutually; entermarch v. intr., to tread on each other’s toes; entermine sb., an intervening mine; entermine v. intr., to drive mines between or in an interval; hence entermining vbl. sb.; enterowe v. [cf. Fr. s’entredevoir] trans., to owe one another; enterpillar [trans. L. intercolumnium], the space between two pillars; enterseek v. [cf. Fr. s’entrechercher], trans., to seek mutually; entershew v. [cf. OF. s’entremostrer], trans., to show one to another; entershine v. [cf. Fr. entreluire], intr., to shine or show up between; to appear partially; to glance, glimmer; entershoulder v. trans., to shoulder mutually, to jostle; hence entershouldering vbl. sb.; entersplit v. [cf. Fr. entrefendre], refl., to split one another; enterspoil v. [trans. Fr. s’entrepiller], trans., to pillage mutually; entersuck v. trans., to suck mutually; entertake v. [cf. Fr. entreprendre and ENTERPRISE v. 3], trans., to receive, entertain; entertear v. [cf. Fr. s’entredéchirer], trans., to tear mutually; enterwarn v. [cf. Fr. s’entr’avertir], trans., to warn mutually.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. viii. (1632), 528. We profitably *enter-advertize our selves of our defects.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. Handie-crafts, 21. [They] cast away their spears, And rapt with joy, them *enterbathe with tears.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxvii. (1632), 90. Children killed their parents … to avoid the hindrance of *enter-bearing one another in after-times.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 110/3. Atte last he opened hys dore and sith *entrebraced eche other.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. Handie-crafts, 209. Their shady boughs first bow they tenderly, Then *enterbraid.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. The syxth vtylyte that Galyen putteth is to *entrebreake [1579 enterbrake], and intercyde the matter.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Gamester, 40. At the end of every act … the encurtain’d musique sounds, to give *enterbreath to the actors.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxx. (1632), 104. Those that are much about one age, doe generally *enter-call one another brethren. Ibid., I. xxii. 47. By the changes and *entercaprings of which, the revolutions … of the … planets are caused.
1598. Norden, Spec. Brit., M’sex, II. 6. For the more easie *entercarriage of thinges between London and it [Hartford].
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. xiii. (1632), 617. Paine & pleasure … *enter-engender and succeed one another.
1575. Gascoigne, Flowers, xii. (R.). Their chiefe repast was by *entreglancing of lokes.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings vii. 28. The verie worke it selfe of the feete, was *entergraven: and *entergravinges betwen the joyntures.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. ii. (1632), 190. They are two occupations that *enter-hinder one another, in their vigor.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. lxiii. 114 a/1. The whyche paccyon they made and *entrehelden; For after ofte times they vysited eche other.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 1050. Water, ’noynting with cold-moist the brims Of th’ *enterkissing turning Globes extreams Tempers the heat.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. iii. (1632), 463. They are things which *enterlend & *enter-owe one [pr. owne] another their essence. Ibid., I. xxvii. 94. They *enter-love one another, and love me as much as I love them.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 105. They [Medea and Jason] *entremarched with their feet under the tables.
c. 1611. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. Decay, 949. Just in the mouth of th’ *entermine he [fir’d].
1541. Elyot, Image Gov. (1556), 135 b. Craftie *enterminynge.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings vii. 31. The middle *enterpillers [were] square not round.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxxiv. (1632), 111. For there are ever conditions that *enter-seeke one another. Ibid., II. xii. 265. It was … a singular pleasure to observe the love … each endevored to *enter-shew one another.
1562. Phaër, Æneid, IX. B b iiij b. Soldiours round ryng not so thicke, Where wal most *entershines.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 301. An overshadowed and darke picture, *enter-shining with an infinit varietie of false lights, to exercise our conjectures.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Jas. V., Wks. 113. At his very sight … a tumult, confused clamour, and *enter-shouldering of male-contents arose.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. Vocation, 301. If that any [stones] fail their foes to hit In full, in flight themselves they *entersplit.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. vii. (1632), 517. Superiority and inferiority … must perpetually *enter-spoile one another. Ibid., II. xxvi. 387. They … mutually *entersuck’t each one the others [thumb].
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. 35. So did this mightie Ladie … with more myld aspect those two to *entertake.
