Forms: 3–8 entre, (3 entri, 4 entere, entur), 4–5 entree, entyr(e, 4– enter. [a. Fr. entrer = Pr. entrar, intrar, Sp., Pg. entrar, It. entrare, intrare:—L. intrāre, related to inter between, intrō inwards, intrā within.
The L. vb. was used both as trans., and as intr. with in = into; in Fr. the intr. use was alone adopted, and passed into Eng. The trans. senses 9–15 are derived from the similar senses of enter into (1–8), perh. with some influence from Lat.]
I. To go or come in.
* intr. (Often conjugated with be.)
1. To go or come into a place, building, room, etc.; to pass within the boundaries of a country, region, portion of space, medium, etc. Also fig.
a. Const. into, † in (= ‘into’), rarely † unto. Now largely superseded by the trans. use 10, but retained where the notion of penetration into the interior of a place is sought to be emphasized.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 4488. In a castel he entred thare.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 38. I entred in þat erber grene.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 399. That ilke nyght, That we ben entred into schippes boord.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3007. Honerable Elan was entrid in þe tempull.
c. 1400. Maundev., v. (1839), 37. In his tyme, entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye. Ibid., 56. At that Cytee entrethe the Ryvere of Nyle into the See.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 263. Syr for Gods sake enter againe into your Ship.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus., 5. We entred into a Woody Mountainous Country.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 339. Enter into it [harbour] then at this time … while day-light remains.
1843. Marryat, M. Violet, xxxv. 290. We … entered into a noble forest.
fig. c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 19. Now [O Apollo] entreth in my brest anoon.
1547. Homilies, I. Good Works (1859), 58. What man … doth not see and lament to have entered into Christs religion such false doctrine.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 284, ¶ 1. When this Humour enters into the Head of a Female.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 450. A spirit of reverence enters into the young man’s soul.
b. simply. To come into the place indicated by the context. Of an actor: To come upon the stage; in the stage-directions of plays used constantly in 3rd pers. imper. sing. and pl. Also fig.
As to the grammatical character of ‘enter’ as a stage direction, cf. the Lat. directions in Calisto & Melibœa 1520, which has frequently intret, exeat, and those in Udall’s Roister Doister 1553, where exeat, exeant, cantent, etc., appear throughout; also Bales’ Kynge Johan: ‘Here the Kyng delevyr the crowne to the Cardynall,’ ‘Her go owt Sedwsion,’ ‘Here the Pope go out,’ ‘Here cum Dyssimulacyon syngyng of the letany,’ etc.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8341 (Cott.). For-þi hir enterd bersabe.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 12. The howr of Mercurie entryng vnder my west orisonte at eue.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xx. (1495). The stocke of boxe … hath noo poores where ayre myghte entree.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9107. Þan vnarmyt he entrid, euyn to þe citie.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxv. 75. Ramsay til hym coym in hy And gert hym entre.
1557. trans. Sir T. More’s Edw. V. (1641), 16. When he is once entred, he creepeth forth so farre.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 186. She [Thisbie] is to enter, and I am to spy Her through the vvall.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. ix. § 3. A way made for Paganism or for extreme barbarity to enter.
1635. Austin, Medit., 194. John … did … before Christ entred, play the Mediator.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 231. The Air … entring by the Furnace-pipes.
1767. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Prov. Mass., ii. 138. The minister … discovered near 20 entring.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VII. liv. 41. The king and his troops entered first through a postern.
c. with pleonastic in (adv.). Somewhat arch. or rhetorical.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 47. Þei entrede in at Temse mouþ.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 75. And there we may, without dent, Enter in now, verament.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., II. viii. 114. And entryde in wytht hys menyhe.
a. 1535. More, De quat. Noviss., Wks. 81/2. While he wer entring in at ye gate.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, V. 472. Empanoplied and plumed We entered in.
2. Law. To make entry (into lands) as a formal assertion of ownership; to take possession. Const. † in, into, and simply. (For to enter upon see 9 a.)
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 12 b. For and he do, the lorde may entre as in landes forfayte to hym.
1619. Dalton, Country Just., lxxxiii. (1630), 213. If after the death of the father, a stranger … entreth into his land by force.
1673. St. German’s Doctor & Stud., 32–3. Though his Successor have right to the Lands, yet he may not enter.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Entry, This entry into lands is where a man enters into or takes possession of any lands, &c. in his proper person.
1818. Cruise, Digest, II. 375. Upon the death of the testator his sister entered and married.
3. To penetrate into the substance of anything; to be plunged deeply. Const. into; also simply.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xxxiii. 28 a/1. The grounde was soo softe and moryssh that they entred up to the raynes.
1539. Bible (Great), Ps. cv. 18. The iron entered into his soul.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 326. The sword Of Michael … deep entring, shar’d All his right side.
† b. fig. (a.) To be absorbed (in thought). (b.) In phrase, to enter far within (a person), i.e., to have great influence over (him). Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3844. Euermore ymaginand & entrond in thoghtes.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XX. xiv. Vindex so far entred within him, as he obtained whatsoever he would at his hands.
4. To become a member in a society, etc. Cf. 23 c.
1389. Eng. Gilds (1870), 3. Who þt entryth in þe same ffraternite.
1674. Brevint, Saul at Endor, 266. By entring into a Confraternity.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1730. He fairly told Taylor that he could not … suffer him to enter where he knew he could not have an able tutor.
Mod. He entered at St. John’s College.
† 5. To come or be brought into any state or condition (sometimes with additional notion of place); to fall into a disorder, etc. Const. into, occas. to, unto. Obs.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 23368 (Fairf.). Þa iois sere þat ihesus crist has diȝt til his qua-sim mai entre in-to þat blis.
1382. Wyclif, Matt. xxv. 21. Entre thou into the ioye of thi lord.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 238/1. Alle they that so consented entred in to frenesye and myght not be hool.
1535. Coverdale, Matt. xviii. 9. To entre in vnto life.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 675. Determined to take part with king Edwarde, with whome … he in small space entred into great grace and high favour.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, 155. Those that be entred into a Ptisick.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 251, ¶ 6. He that has entred into Guilt has bid Adieu to Rest.
6. To make a beginning, engage (in any action, course of conduct, discourse, etc.). a. Const. in (arch.), into, occas. † to.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 8. To the entent that thei might praie and entre in orisones.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 28. Afoir we enter to the special declaratioun of the x commandis.
1597. T. Morley, Introd. Mus., To Rdr. There be many who will enter into the reading of my booke for their instruction.
1611. Bible, Ps. cxliii. 2. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), I. 11/1. Though the war was entered in, all hope of obtaining money to carry it on was even desperate.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 426, ¶ 1. He entered into the following Relation.
1841. Brewster, Mart. Sci., vi. (1856), 89. The commissioners entered into an active correspondence with Galileo.
1855. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 264. We entered into conversation without having been introduced.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. viii. 113. The returning officer has not, however, any power of entering into a scrutiny of votes.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. 24. Ireland would be entered in rebellion.
† b. simply. Also of a period of time or state of things: To begin. Obs.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 13. Began and entred with the matter that he came for.
1563. Shute, Archit., D iij a. To beginne with the Pedestal of Corinthia, ye shal enter thus.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 149. There entred a verie fervent affection and good will between them.
1669. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 41. Imploring His blessing for the year entering.
1688. Penn. Archives, I. 107. The winter … is now entred with some severity.
7. intr. for refl. of branch II. (See 20 c, 23 c.)
8. To enter into († in): in various senses, in which the intrans. vb. does not occur simply.
† a. To look at a particular place in (a mathematical table). Obs. So Fr. entrer dans. Cf. 16.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 44. With so many entere into thy tabelis in þe furst lyne.
b. To take on oneself (an engagement, a relation, the duties of an office, etc.). Sometimes in indirect passive. † To enter into religion: to embrace a monastic life. Cf. 14.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 35. We … bieþ i-entred in-to cristes seruise.
c. 1290. Lives Saints (1887), 125. For to entri into Answere: þare he ne ouȝte nouȝt to do.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 349. Who is beterid by entryng into þes ordris.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 312. Auyseth yow … How that ye entren in to mariage.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxi. § 2. Such kind of baptism barred men afterwards from entering into holy orders.
a. 1631. Donne, Paradoxes (1652), 28. These men which die the Allegoricall death of entring into Religion.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., II. v. 92. That they all entered into Pay.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 79, ¶ 3. I have a mind to put off entering into Matrimony till another Winter is over my Head.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 388. Our great man was entered in Religion, as they called it.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iii. 140. Trade … does not care for the religious tenets of those who offer to enter into relations with it.
c. To become a party to; to bind oneself by (a league, treaty, etc.); to append one’s name to (a bond). See also RECOGNIZANCE, SECURITY.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings xxiii. 3. And all the people entred in to [Wyclif: assentyde to] the couenaunt.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 128. Master, I am heere entred in bond for you. Ibid. (1593), Rich. II., V. ii. 65. ’Tis nothing but some bond, that he is enter’d into.
1637. Decree Star Chamb., § 16, in Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 16. The like Bond shall be entred into by all.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 69, ¶ 1. A Subject of the Great Mogul entering into a League with one of the Czar of Moscovy.
1767. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Prov. Mass., ii. 201. They entred anew into articles of submission and pacification.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Mor. T. (1816), I. 220. The agreement, into which he had entered.
1886. Manch. Exam., 2 Jan., 5/3. He refused to enter into a treaty with the Indian Government.
d. To engage in the consideration of (a subject).
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 9. To entre into another matter.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), 112. The second of these must by insinuation be entred into.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. vi. § 9. 105. If we should enter into their Theology, and the History of that.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 95, ¶ 3. I … should be obliged to you if you would enter into the Matter more deeply.
1839. G. Bird, Nat. Philos., Introd. p. xxxiv. To enter into these speculations would however be useless and unprofitable.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 45. Into its physiology we do not propose to enter.
† e. To take part in, intermeddle with. Obs.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 176, ¶ 2. Our Affections must never enter into our Business.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time, II. 207. Other princes would not … enter into the laws and establishment settled among us.
f. To take an interest in; to take an intelligent interest in, understand, sympathize with.
1797. Godwin, Enquirer, I. vi. 43. It is by comparison only that we can enter into the philosophy of language.
1833. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life, I. ix. 404. Entering into everything and enjoying everything like a child.
1851. Helps, Friends in C., II. 11. I should enter into his feelings rather than into those of the ordinary spectator.
1885. Sir J. Hannen, in Law Rep. Prob. Div. X. 89. She entered into all the arrangements … in a methodical and rational manner.
g. To form part of; to be a constituent element in. So also with adv., To enter in.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 152. Lapis Calaminaris, which enters into the Composition of the Brass.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 193. The quantity and species of sabulous matter that entered into the texture of the limestone.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), I. 567. These universal correspondencies … enter into all the plans of Nature.
1811. Pinkerton, Petralogy, I. 231. Where no secondary stone enters in its composition, I do not see why [etc.].
1879. Huxley, Hume, iii. 74. Those compound states of consciousness, which so largely enter into our ordinary trains of thought.
1888. Spectator, 30 June, 884/1. Other considerations, some of them trifling enough, enter in.
h. In Bible phrase, To enter into (another’s) labors (lit. from the Gr. and the Vulg.): to reap the benefits of what has been done by another.
1382. Wyclif, John iv. 38. Othere men traueliden, and ȝe entriden in to her trauelis.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 11. They laboured … the vynyarde. & we haue entred into theyr labours, takynge the fruyte of the same.
9. To enter on, upon:
a. Law. (Cf. 2.) To make an entry into (land) as an assertion of ownership; to assume possession of (property); † to dispossess (a holder of property).
1467. Bury Wills (1850), 47. I will that myn feffeis and myn executo’s entre vppon hym and put hym owth.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 23/2. It shall not be lawful for any Woman to enter upon the goods of the dead.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 263, ¶ 6. I shall immediately enter upon your Estate for the Arrear due to me.
1809. Bawdwen, Domesday Bk., 599. Ausfrid, the Priest, entered forcibly upon this land of Ralph’s.
1818. Cruise, Digest, III. 319. He will not distrain or enter on the premises conveyed for the recovery of his rent charge.
b. To make an entrance on; to take the first steps upon (a path, a tract travelled over).
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 59. And forþward faste on hure way þey wente, and entrede on þe brigge.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. ci. 8. Annot. 499/2. The season wherein David, as a Judge, entring on the Tribunal [etc.].
1826. Foster, in Life & Corr. (1846), II. 96. He is saved from entering on a scene of infinite corruptions.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 12. 88. My guide and myself entered upon this portion of the glacier.
c. fig. To take the first steps in; to do the first part of; to begin, take in hand, engage in (a process, enterprise). Cf. Fr. † entrer sur (Littré). Also, to begin (a period of time).
1618. Bolton, Florus, I. i. 3. Which of them should first enter upon the government and Rule.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., Ded. a ij b. I after was entred on a Resolution to dedicate it to his Memory.
1672–5. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702), 89. By his offering and entring on a treaty.
1705. Addison, Italy, Pref. For before I enter’d on my Voyage I took care [etc.].
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), I. 271. I was now enter’d on the seven and twentieth Year of my Captivity in this Place.
1844. Stanley, Arnold, II. x. 288. He entered on his Professorial duties.
1883. Gilmour, Mongols, xvii. 206. To enter upon a contest with evil.
† d. To begin an attack upon. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xliii. (heading), How Nysus and Eryalus made theym redy to entre vpon the hoost of Turnus.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 540. The Beare dareth not to enter upon the wilde Boar, except behinde him.
e. To begin to deal with (a subject).
1632. Star Chamb. Cases (1886), 124. Then the Kinges Councell entred upon their proofes.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. vi. (1739), 14. Thus entred the Prelates upon affairs of Kings and Kingdoms.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 339, ¶ 5. The Day is not too far spent for him to enter upon such a Subject.
1727. Wodrow Corr. (1843), III. 295. This day the Committee … entered on the Church’s grievances.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej. xv. (1813), II. 187. Her fear, if she once entered on the subject.
** trans. (formerly sometimes conjugated with be.)
10. To go or come into (a closed space, e.g., a house); to go within the bounds of (a country, etc.); to go within (a gate); to step upon (a path, a bridge); to go on board (a ship). Cf. 1 a.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 402. Yhe sal noght entre, be na way Hevenryke that sal last ay.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13880. No buerne was so bold þe brigge for to entre.
c. 1400. Maundev., xiii. (1839), 144. He most entre the See, at Gene.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. 302. He hathe entred the heuen, to appere before the vysage of his fader for vs.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 165. The which with great courage entered Wales.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 171. Who being discomfited with the storms and tempestes thereof, neuer enter shippe to the same ende againe with quiet minds.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. i. 7. One … that when he enters the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his Sword vpon the Table.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 178, ¶ 2. He … returns as if he were entring a Gaol.
1737. Winston, Josephus’ Hist., IV. iv. § 7. They soon came to know who they were … that were entered the city.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 165. The gate which thou enterest.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, III. i. Some traveller, who shall enter Our tent, may read it.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, i. Who was the young lady that I saw entering a carriage?
1876. Green, Short Hist., i. 18. The band of monks entered Canterbury bearing before them a silver cross.
fig. c. 1380. Wyclif, Last Age Church (1840), p. xxv. Þis was þe firste tribulacioun þat ontrede þe Chirche of God.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 71. Entring the glorious waies of Truth.
1843. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 201. It never enters his head to lie under the walnut-tree here.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xv. 121. The idea that Lady Mason was guilty had never entered her head.
† b. To take possession of (the throne, the crown). Cf. 9 a. Obs.
1563. Foxe, Life, in Latimer’s Serm. & Rem. (1845), Introd. 20. Till the time that blessed King Edward entered his crown.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xxi. (1739), 102. Henry the Fourth entred the Throne by his Sword.
c. To take up one’s abode in. Chiefly with mixed notion of 12, as to enter a monastery, the cloister (= to become a monk or nun), to enter a college, etc.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., I. ii. 182. This day my sister should the Cloyster enter.
d. To force an entrance into; to break into (a house, etc.); † to board (a ship).
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 49/1. His lodging … was entred with fire.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xii. 57. There is more men lost in entering, if the chase stand to her defence.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, vi. (1757), 202. And seeing their forecastle full of men,… I concluded they had come to a resolution of entering us.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius, II. 777. Judgment was arrested in trespass for breaking and entering a free fishery.
11. To make a way into or pass between the parts of anything: to pierce; to penetrate. Cf. 3.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. iv. 182. This respite … enter’d me; Yea, with a spitting power.
† b. Of the agent: To pierce, make a hole into. Also fig. to ‘get an idea into’ (a person). Obs.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 154. Entring the Post first with an Augure.
a. 1718. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 526. I almost despair of entering some of our Adversaries.
† c. Of male animals: To copulate with. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 18. If an Asse cover a Mare which a Horse hath formerly entred, he will destroy the seed of the Horse. Ibid. A female Asse which hath been entred by a male Asse.
12. To become a member of (a society or organized body). So to enter the army, the church, a university, etc. Cf. 4.
1751. Newcastle Courant, No. 301, 24–31 Aug., 2/2. He entered the Navy in 1710.
1800. The Sun (Pittsfield, MA), 9 Dec., 4/3. His son, then a youth, who had entered Oxford as a student.
Mod. He entered the army at nineteen. A lad of seventeen is too young to enter a university.
† 13. To take the first steps in (an action or work); to begin. Often with obj. inf. Obs. Cf. 6.
c. 1515. Cocke Lorell’s B. (1843), 12. Some to howse the tope sayle dyde entre.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iv. 17. To begynne and enter his prechyng.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 77/1. Constantinus … entred his journie, comming towards Italie.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 49. The souldiers … having no stomache to enter conflict and skyrmishe, betooke them to flight.
1594. Nashe, Terrors of Night, G b. Which before I enter to describe, thus much I will informe ye.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 256. A worke well entred, is truly said to be halfe done.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 29. Made, or, at least, entred at the Forge,… yet sometimes Smiths do it on cold Iron.
b. To begin (a period of time).
a. 1617. P. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 75. Kings … in entring their reigns.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. i. 13, note. Her majesty had just entered the seventy-seventh year of her age.
† 14. To come, or be brought, into a certain state; to take upon oneself (a condition, office, or relation of any kind); to embrace (a profession). Obs. exc. in phrase To enter religion (cf. 8 b).
1563. Homilies, II. Resurr. Christ (1859), 430. Then are they in very evill case … that be entred their sleepe in Christ.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 282. Over hastie bee they to enter wedlocke. Ibid., 342. If you doe enter acquaintance and familiaritie with him.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur. (1861), 91. Would these princes … enter arms as did the Greeks against Troy.
1596. Edward III., I. ii. B 1 b. We with England will not enter parlie.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., xvii. (1614), 33/2. Sigebert … entered the profession of a monke. Ibid., xxviii. 55/1. P. O. Scapula entred his Lieutenantship in Britaine.
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s Inst., 23. Make Oath not to enter marriage again without the Kings consent.
1888. ‘Bernard,’ Fr. World to Cloister, 9. If he enter religion.
† 15. To enter bond: = ‘to enter into a bond’ (see 8 c). Obs.
1650. Bury Wills (1850), 224. Soe that within a moneth after my death she enter bond to my trustees of my estate. Ibid. If she shall refuse to enter such bond.
16. To turn to a particular place in (a mathematical table). Still in nautical use. Cf. 8 a.
1593. T. Fale, Dialling, 11/2. With this quocient Sine I enter the Table.
1644. Nye, Gunnery (1670), 60. I enter the Table under the Title inches.
1840. Raper, Navigation, 80. Enter Table 5 with the first number of points at the top, and the second number of points at the side.
II. To cause to enter.
17. trans. To put or bring (a person) into something: esp. to take or put (men) on board a vessel. arch.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxx. 143. They decked thre shyppes, and entred into theym a certayne.
1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 387. Whereby to enter the lawe of the Gospel into the mightie kingdome of China.
1607. Dekker, Northw. Hoe, III. i. Wks. 1873, III. 36. But come enter him [i.e., ‘show in’ a visitor].
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, III. Comm. (1857), 81. And thus to the last twelve books … with those free feet that entered me, I haste.
1674. Lond. Gaz., No. 870/4. Laying him on board on the Bow … [he] entered his Men, and made him surrender.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xi. (1840), 193. The boat … was to enter her men in the waste.
1845. R. W. Hamilton, Pop. Educ., vii. (ed. 2), 146. Each citizen has a legal right to enter his children [in the primary schools].
1847–8. H. Miller, First Impr., viii. (1857), 124. He would, he said, fairly enter me on the grounds, and introduce me.
† b. fig. To admit into a society, etc.; to introduce into a condition or state. Const. into, rarely in. Obs.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. i. (1611), 83–4. Entered wee are not into the visible Church, before our admittance by the doore of baptisme.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. xiv. 113. This sword but shewne to Cæsar with this tydings, Shall enter me with him.
a. 1617. P. Bayne, On Eph. (1658), 7–8. This blessing … entreth them into assured possession.
1658. Whole Duty Man, i. § 31 (1684), 23. Baptism … enters us into covenant with God.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), I. 4. He would … endeavour to enter me fairly into the Station of Life which [etc.].
1723. Blackall, Wks., I. 184. By which [Baptism] we are entred and initiated into the Christian Church.
† c. with complement. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. ii. 103. His Pupill age Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea.
1631. Massinger, Beleeve as You List, I. i. With this charitie I enter thee a begger.
† 18. To introduce (to the knowledge of anything) by instruction; to give (a person) initiatory information or instruction in; to instruct initially; to initiate. Obs. or arch.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), C iij. The precepts of wise men, which she had been entred in.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par., Pref. 13 b. Sounde meate for such as are wel entred.
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. ii. 2. They of Rome are entred in our Counsailes.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., I. ii. 41. So that he be already entred into the Theorie of Music.
a. 1714. Ellwood, Autobiog., 202. He asked me … If I would enter his Children in the Rudiments of the Latin Tongue.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., II. § 4. Cleophon … entered him [his son] betimes in the principles of his sect.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iv. 229. You are entered in all the secrets of his workshop.
b. To exercise initially; to train; to fly (a hawk) for the first time; to break in (a horse). Also, to enter a dog at or to: to put him (while yet untrained) on the scent of.
1481–90. Howard Househ. Bks. (1844), 508. A kest of hakys, when he went to enter them to the rever.
c. 1575. Perfect Bk. Sparhawkes (ed. Hasting, 1886), 17. Enter her in this order folowinge.
1598. Florio, Accarnare, to flesh, to enter a dog.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 21 Dec. Not daring yet to use the others [horses] too much, but only to enter them.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1693), 143 (D.). Like Hounds ready to be entred.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Entering of Hounds, The Hare is esteemed the best Game to enter your Hounds at.
1875. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, 124. The young hounds should be entered to fox.
1881. Michell, Hawking, in Macm. Mag., XLV. 39. It remains only to break him to the lure, and to ‘enter’ him, each of which processes is soon completed.
19. To put (something) into (another thing); to put in, insert, introduce. Now chiefly techn. [So Fr. entrer (Littré), though the use is not recognized by the Academy.]
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 623. This lettir sall I entyr heyr.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. III. i. He much perplexed is … Where to make choice to enter his rugg’d saw.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, 30. Gavelock;… an Iron Bar to enter stakes into the ground.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 122. Enter the edge of the Draw-knife into the Work.
1787. Best, Angling (ed. 2), 29. You must enter the hook at the tail of the worm.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), X. xcv. Entering your watch at the wrong opening, when it instantly dives to your knee.
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 244. It is therefore politic to enter the wedge by this end.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (1862), 208. 5 … enters shot or shell, and rams home.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seamen’s Catech., 11. The ball will be entered the largest end downward.
1865. Bushnell, Vicar. Sacr., I. (1866), 4. A special care is needed lest we enter something into the meaning from ourselves.
† b. To enter foot: to begin. Also refl. in same sense. Obs.
1618. Chapman, Hesiod, I. 23/141. When first thou enterst foot to plow thy land.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, I. x. He … entered himself into an ejaculation on the numberless calamities which attended beauty.
c. In backgammon. To place a man again on the board after it has been taken up, and unable to come in again because the point indicated by the throw is already full.
1870. Hardy & Ware, Mod. Hoyle, Backgammon, 143.
20. To put (a name) into a list in writing, (a fact or particular) into a description or record; to write down (on paper, a tablet, etc.). Const. in, into, on, and simply. To enter (money, goods, etc.) to, against: to put down to a person’s account.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 253. I was markid, withoute mercy and myn name entrid In þe legende of lif longe er I were.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 44. Consider thy rote furst … & entere hit in to thy slate for the laste merydye of December.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxii. (1839), 238. Thei [alle the Mynstrelle] ben … entred in his Bokes, as for his owne men.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 20. To entre their copyes truely in the lordes courte roll.
1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 196. Such discourses, as you have already with painefull pen entered into paper.
1668. Hale, in Rolle’s Abridgm., Pref. 8. Let him enter the Abstract … into his Common-place-Book.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. C viij. The Publisher … has duly entred this Book in the Register of Stationers-hall, London.
1783. Burke, Report Affairs India, Wks. XI. 136. He did not, however, think it proper to enter his answer on the records.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xix. 154. If you received the note from us … it must be entered in our books.
1812. Examiner, 27 Sept., 624/1. They … determined to enter goods to people who never had any dealings.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, ix. And not entered against him at the long and dire day of accounting.
1844. Lingard, Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858), I. App. 361. Parish Churches are entered in the ancient record of Domesday.
b. To hand in at the Custom House a statement of the amount and value of (goods exported or imported). Also, to register (a vessel) as arriving in or leaving a port.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., A ij b. Such as … like Merchants with their goods, enter them, before they ship them.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xiii. 28. The cargo having been entered in due form, we began trading.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. x. (1852), 342. The teas entered for consumption.
Mod. Newspaper. (Heading of paragraphs), Vessels entered inwards. Vessels entered outwards.
c. To insert by name on the list of competitors (in a race, athletic contest, etc.). Also intr. for refl.
1684. Lond. Gaz., No. 1938/4. The first Horses to be shown and entred there a week before for this year. Ibid. (1702), No. 3832/4. The Horses to be enter’d … 14 days before.
Mod. Please enter me for the Sack Race and Hurdles. Have you entered for the Quarter-mile?
21. To enter up: a. To enter in regular form (a series of items); to complete the series of entries in (a book) to a certain date.
Mod. (Comm.) Have you entered up your payments? The cash-book had not been properly entered up.
b. Law. To cause (a verdict, judgment, etc.) to be written down in the records of a court.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. ii. § 48 (1740), 54. Corruptions by the Way, use not to be entered up upon Record.
1875. Poste, Gaius, III. (ed. 2), 414. A judge’s order authorizing the plaintiff to enter up judgment and issue execution.
22. a. Law. To enter an action, caveat, writ, etc.; to bring it before the court in due form, usually in writing. b. To enter a protest: primarily of the minority in a deliberative body, esp. the House of Lords, to record a protest on the journals or minutes; hence gen. to protest. So also, to enter a caution, protestation, etc.
a. 1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 129. Chrysostome may enter action against him of slaunder and defamation.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 2. Mr. Fang, haue you entred the Action?
1884. Law Rep. Prob. Div. IX. 23. The defendant … entered a caveat.
b. 1679. Dryden, Tr. & Cress., Ep. Ded. Whatever Protestation you might enter to the contrary.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 139. I enter’d no caution about it to the Reader.
1728. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 86. A motion was then made for entring a protest against the above order.
1821. Q. Caroline, Remonstr. Geo. IV., 17 July. The Queen feels it to be her bounden duty to enter her most deliberate and solemn protest against the said determination.
1884. A. R. Pennington, Wiclif, ix. 290. He entered his decided protest against the system of the Schoolmen.
23. From sense 20, with mixed notion of 17 b; a. To admit as a pupil, or member of a society; to engage (a servant, workman, etc.). b. To procure admission for (a person) as such. c. refl. and intr. for refl. Const. among, in, into, of.
a. 1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 23. They that are entered under him as their Master for future teaching, are at present in the relation of Disciples.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. ii. § 5. 125. And if the King were chosen out of the Souldiers, he was presently entred among the Priests.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., III. 358. In the year 1655. making a return to the University, he was entred into Ch. Ch.
1748. Anson, Voy., III. viii. 370. He had entered twenty-three men during his stay at Macao.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 129. I immediately entered another able seaman, which … made the number six. Ibid., § 130. I likewise entered three masons and nine tinners … to take the first turn or week.
b. 1670. Walton, Lives, IV. 14. Having entred Edward into Queens Colledge.
1675. Art Contentm., IX. § 11. 171. He was never enter’d in those Academies of luxury.
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 307, ¶ 12. He was entered in a College of Jesuits.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 224. Some Irish officers … entered me into the army.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, an. 1730. Taylor was entered of that college.
c. 1689–92. Locke, Toleration, Wks. 1727, II. iii. 324. They are free from it who enter themselves of the Company.
1702. Lond. Gaz., No. 3839/4. All others that enter to pay Five Guineas.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 77. The people who were willing to take service with us, and enter themselves on board.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., I. 6. He therefore entered himself as a clerk to a solicitor.
