enterprise: [15] Enterprise is the Romancelanguage equivalent of the native English formation undertaking. It comes from the past participle of Old French entreprendre, a compound verb formed from entre ‘between’ and prendre ‘take’ (a word with many relatives in English, from comprehend to surprise). The original Old French version of the word was emprise (from Vulgar Latin *imprendere ‘undertake’, in which the prefix was in- rather than inter-), and English actually borrowed this in the 13th century; it survived as an archaism into the 19th century.
The underlying meaning of both versions is probably ‘taking something in or between one’s hands’ so as to do something about it. => apprehend, comprehend, comprise, surprise
enterprise (n.)
early 15c., "an undertaking," formerly also enterprize, from Old French enterprise "an undertaking," noun use of fem. past participle of entreprendre "undertake, take in hand" (12c.), from entre- "between" (see entre-) + prendre "to take," contraction of prehendere (see prehensile). Abstract sense of "adventurous disposition, readiness to undertake challenges, spirit of daring" is from late 15c.
双语例句
1. He favoured a middle course between free enterprise and state intervention.
他更倾向于在自由经营与国家干预之间走一条中庸之道。
来自柯林斯例句
2. History may judge the enterprise to have been rather backward-looking.
历史也许会证明这一雄心勃勃的计划过于保守了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. It seemed a singularly ill-judged enterprise for Truman to undertake.
这对于杜鲁门来说似乎是一项特别不明智的事业。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He is still involved in voluntary work promoting local enterprise.
他仍在从事促进当地创业的志愿者工作。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Within a free enterprise capitalist society, resources are very unevenly distributed.
