[f. ENTERPRISE v. + -ER1.] One who attempts an undertaking. Const. of, in. † Also in bad sense, an adventurer.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxxxiv. 424. A great enterpriser of dedes of armes.
1545. T. Raynold, Womans Booke, D 2. The gud courages of al honest enterpreyers [sic] in those matters & al other.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 802/2. The enterprisers of these iusts, was Thomas lord Howard [etc.].
1594–5. in Chambers, Dom. Ann. Scot., I. 259. He was ane simple gentleman, and not ane enterpriser.
1681. [Sir E. Harley], Ess. Peace & Truth Ch., 17. The Enterprizers of that new Babel.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac., II. § 2 (1737), I. 233. The Boast of almost every Enterprizer in the Muses Art.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, I. xix. 138. The attempts of enterprisers and fortune-seekers.
1830. R. Chambers, Life Jas. I., I. iii. 93. An enterpriser in the great and hazardous schemes.
1882. W. B. Weeden, Soc. Law Labor, 32. These are not simply undertakers, inter-takers, or enterprisers.
