Middle English Dictionary Entry
enterprīse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | enterprīse n. Also -prinse, -pruise. |
| Etymology | OF entreprise, -prinse. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A warlike expedition or adventure; deed of arms or combat; (b) an attack or assault; (c) temptation (by the Devil).
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)2 : The many and grete entreprises of labouris and aventuris that ye haue..yovyn youre selph to.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)4310 : The Soudon wist..That thei lost such an entrepris.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)41/14 : They mervelled myche of what contre the knyght was that wold doo thes entrepryses.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)40/5 : He thoght to make entirpryse, wher as he wold doo fetys of armys.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)6 : Entrepruises and werris taken and founded uppon a just cause.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)3238 : Thanne shuld he not take this interprise.
b
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.259 : Þe grete enterprises þat his adversarie of France..hath doon þis seasoun passed in þe Kynges duchie of Guyenne.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : Such an enterprise is the more ffeseable, when such a rebell hath more riches than his souerayne lorde.
c
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)233 : Be a full euell enterpryse and temptacion of the deuell.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)446/52 : For yeue hus owr trespace; lett nott þe fende reioice hys Entirprise.
2.
An undertaking, labor, task.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)13 : The grete and stronge entreprises [of Hercules].
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)21 : The xij puissaunt entreprinses [sic] and aventurous dedis that Hercules..toke uppon hym.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1432 : By your interprise, Owt of daunger ye causid me to rise.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)3/9 : Thus vndirtoke he [a demon] this enterprise to gete a man.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)570 : Me semeth I alone durst take that entyrpryse.
3.
Bold or enterprising spirit; valor.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)63/3 : Ma dame,..I trowe that the entrepris comes of you.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)20 : Was never so worshipfulle an act of entreprise.
- a1500 ?Ros Belle Dame (Cmb Ff.1.6)515 : By which loue hathe, of entirprise notable, So many hertis getyn bi conquest.