English
emprise
Emprise comes from Old French emprise ‘enterprise’, from Latin prehendō ‘to take’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendōas prehendere‘to take’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CE*imprensareconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400emprise‘enterprise’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1590same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendōas prehendere‘to take’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CE*imprensareconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400emprise‘enterprise’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1590same form
Earliest quotation: 1590, Edmund Spenser, Book I, Canto IX: “[N]oble minds of yore allyed were, / In braue…”
The story
Noun is from Middle English emprise, from Old French emprise, emprinse, from Late Latin *imprensa, from Latin in- + prehendere (‘to take’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’
yet, guess, prey, predator, apprehend, predation, reprieve, beget, impregnable, prehensile, 29 more
through Proto-Italic *praiɣendō
prisoner, imprison, impresario, 11 more
through Latin prehendō ‘to take’
prison, prize, comprehensive, surprise, apprentice, comprehend, comprehension, apprehension, apprehensive, reprehensible, comprise, 13 more
Today it means
noun An enterprise or endeavor, especially a quest or adventure.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- / emprise