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.
例文
1. He favoured a middle course between free enterprise and state intervention.
彼は自由経営と国家介入の間で中庸の道を歩む傾向がある。
2.History may judge the enterprise to have been rather backward-looking.
歴史は、この野心的な計画が保守的すぎることを証明するかもしれない。
3.It seemed a singularly ill-judged enterprise for Truman to undertake.
これはトルーマンにとって特に賢明ではない事業のようだ。
4.He is still involved in voluntary work promoting local enterprise .
彼はまだ地元の起業を促進するボランティアに従事している。
5.Within a free enterprise capitalist society,resources are very unevenly distributed.