Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A chivalrous or adventurous undertaking.
  • noun Chivalrous daring or prowess.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To undertake.
  • noun An undertaking; an enterprise; an adventure; also, adventurousness. Also emprize.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb obsolete To undertake.
  • noun An enterprise; endeavor; adventure.
  • noun The qualifies which prompt one to undertake difficult and dangerous exploits.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic An enterprise or endeavor, especially a quest or adventure.
  • noun archaic The qualities which prompt one to undertake difficult and dangerous exploits; chivalric prowess.
  • verb obsolete To undertake.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, from feminine past participle of emprendre, to undertake, from Vulgar Latin *imprēndere : Latin in-, in; see en– + Latin prehendere, prēndere, to take, grasp; see ghend- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French emprise, emprinse, from Late Latin *imprensa, from Latin in- + prehendere ("to take").

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Examples

  • A close relative is the English word "emprise" ( "an adventurous, daring, or chivalric enterprise"), which, like "impresario," traces back to the Latin verb

    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day 2009

  • A close relative is the English word "emprise" ( "an adventurous, daring, or chivalric enterprise"), which, like "impresario," traces back to the Latin verb

    Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day 2009

  • They are men of honor, bold in emprise, valiant and fierce as hawks, but well-spoken, gentlemen first and last.

    INTERVIEW: John C. Wright 2004

  • Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Empire Club, -- The linking of Great Britain and America, in a high emprise is always welcome to a British or an American audience.

    Great Britain and America in the Service of the World 1925

  • "O my king," the Lady Om whined to me in her beggar's chant; and I knew all her long-tried love and faith in my emprise were in that chant.

    Chapter 15 2010

  • Also, Graham realized that the turning of her head and the waving of her arm was only partly in bravado, was more in aesthetic wisdom of the picture she composed, and was, most of all, sheer joy of daring and emprise of the blood and the flesh and the life that was she.

    CHAPTER IX 2010

  • Is it necessary to ask how much of high emprise and honorable conduct has been found here?

    DARKWATER W.E.B. DU BOIS 2004

  • And first, the wise men and the magicians recommend that ye be all three sent forth upon an arduous emprise.

    PodCastle » 2010 » February 2010

  • And first, the wise men and the magicians recommend that ye be all three sent forth upon an arduous emprise.

    PodCastle » PodCastle 89: The Queen’s Triplets 2010

  • Thou too, O Pylades, trusty squire, whose training shows thy father's sterling worth, receive a garland from my hand, for thou no less than he hast a share in this emprise; and so I pray, good luck be thine for ever!

    Electra 2008

Comments

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  • (n.): enterprise, adventure; prowess or daring. Also emprize.

    September 25, 2009

  • "She also decided that since this was, after all, her quest (so far a matter of low emprise), she would cross all the other clues off her list whenever she felt justified in doing so."

    - Oreo by Fran Ross, p 97 of the New Directions paperback edition

    October 6, 2015

  • Oh, how many evils arise

    When citizens blinker their eyes,

    When allegiance to fact

    Is a perilous act

    And seeking the truth an emprise?

    September 5, 2018