arch. Forms as in sb. [partly f. prec.; partly f. Fr. entrepris, pa. pple. of entreprendre (see prec.), from which vb. the senses are chiefly taken.]
1. trans. To take in hand (a work), take upon oneself (a condition), attempt or undertake (a war, an expedition, etc.), run the risk of or venture upon (danger). arch.
1485. Malory, Arthur, Contents VII. v. How Trystram enterprysed the Bataylle to fyght for the trewage of Cornwayl.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 51. It boldeth hym to … enterpryse without feare suche ieoperdy.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices, 13. Matrimonie … is not to bee enterprised … vnaduisedlye.
1602. Patericke, trans. Gentillet agst. Machiavel, 314. Appius could not obtaine the tyrannie which hee had enterprised.
1691. Locke, Money, Wks. 1727, II. 89. And tho’ this was enterprized by a Prince, who could stretch his Prerogative very far upon his People.
1727. Woolston, Disc. Miracles (ed. 2), iv. 55. That the Bearers of the poor Man should enterprise a trouble and a difficulty.
1788. Cowper, Corr. (1824), II. 174. Impossible for Mrs. Unwin to enterprize a cake.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. I. ii. 57. Roman ambition first enterprized the conquest of the common parent of the British nations.
1871. Ruskin, Fors Clav., v. 12. What the Times calls ‘Railway Enterprise.’ You Enterprised a Railroad through the valley.
† b. with inf. (rarely with clause) as obj. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. xxiv. 193. Them that haue late enterprysed agayn right and reson to make warre.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 388. Maister Chaucer … nobly enterprysed How that our Englysshe myght freshly be ennewed.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 497. Ananias, thou hast enterprised to lye vnto the Holie ghost.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ii. § 13. Dd 3 b. But to circle the Earth, as the heauenly Bodies doe, was not done, nor enterprised, till these later times.
1617. Hales, Gold. Rem. (1688), 7. He therefore enterpris’d to handle this Argument.
† 2. With personal obj.: a. To take in hand, attack. b. In pa. pple. [after Fr. entrepris]: Embarrassed, non-plussed, rendered helpless.
c. 1450. Merlin, xx. 315. Whan the kynge Arthur saugh hem so enterprised.
1480. Caxton, Ovid’s Met., XII. xviii. I am so moche enterprised of dystresse and anger.
c. 1510. More, Picus, Wks. 26. He lieth at hande, and shall vs enterprise.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, II. 135. Danes and Norwaies enterprised this lande.
† 3. intr. To make an attempt, undertake an operation, form a design. Of military commanders: To direct operations, make an attack (upon). Cf. Fr. entreprendre sur. Obs.
a. 1527. trans. Machiavelli’s Prince, iii. (1883), 25. France … with its own forces alone, had been able to have enterprised upon Naples.
1588. J. Udall, Diotrephes (Arb.), 28. Be sure of the court, before you enterprise any other where.
1640. Yorke, Union Hon., 37. One Robert Huldern … with 15,000 strong enterprized for Yorke.
1651. trans. De-las-Coveras’ Don Fenise, 207. He had a design to enterprise upon the honour of his owne Sister.
1701. Collier, M. Aurel. (1726), 296. We should enterprize with a reserve for disappointment.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 111. It behoved the learned, grave, and godly ministers of Christ to enterprize farther.
1813. Sir R. Wilson, Priv. Diary, II. 248. Buonaparte … might, perhaps, enterprize towards Prague.
Hence ǁ Enterprised ppl. a., that has been undertaken, ventured upon.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 193. The Duke and the Lantzgraue made aunswere … recyting the causes of this enterprised defence.
1572. R. H., trans. Lauaterus’ Ghostes (1596), 33. He woulde persist in his enterprised purpose.
