English Online Dictionary. What means enterprise? What does enterprise mean?
English
Alternative forms
- enterprize (chiefly archaic)
- entreprise (chiefly archaic)
Etymology
From Old French via Middle English and Middle French entreprise, feminine past participle of entreprendre (“to undertake”), from entre (“in between”) + prendre (“to take”), from Latin inter + prehendō, see prehensile.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɛntəˌpɹaɪz/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈɛntɚˌpɹaɪz/
- Hyphenation: en‧ter‧prise
Noun
enterprise (countable and uncountable, plural enterprises)
- A company, business, organization, or other purposeful endeavor.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:enterprise
- An undertaking, venture, or project, especially a daring and courageous one.
- (uncountable) A willingness to undertake new or risky projects; energy and initiative.
- (uncountable) Active participation in projects. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Synonyms
- initiative
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
enterprise (third-person singular simple present enterprises, present participle enterprising, simple past and past participle enterprised)
- (intransitive) To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult.
- (transitive) To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
- c. 1680, Thomas Otway, letter to Elizabeth Barry
- What would I not renounce or enterprise for you!
- (transitive) To treat with hospitality; to entertain.
References
- “enterprise”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- enterprise in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
- “enterprise”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Anagrams
- entreprise