| 释义 |
▪ I. enterprise, n.|ˈɛntəpraɪz|
Forms: 5–6 enter-, entreprys(e, (5 enterprinse), entrepris(e, 6 enterprice, -yce, 6–9 enterprize, 5– enterprise. Also 6–7 interprise, -yse, Sc. -yiss, 7 -yze.
[a. OFr. entreprise, -prinse, f. entreprendre to take in hand, undertake, f. entre between + prendre to take.]
1. A design of which the execution is attempted; a piece of work taken in hand, an undertaking; chiefly, and now exclusively, a bold, arduous, or momentous undertaking.
c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 4310 Whan the Soudon wist of this That thei lost such an entrepris. 1475Bk. Noblesse (1860) 6 Entreprinses and werris taken and founded vppon a just cause. 1530Palsgr. 868 The great diffyculte of myne entrepryse. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 185 Met in the middis with mony interpryiss. 1557Paynel Barclay's Jugurth 95 b, He proceded in his interprise and purpose. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1308 They resolved..to make an enterprise upon some townes of Albania. 1618E. Elton Expos. Romans vii. (1622) 398 We must not be ignorant of Satan's Enterprizes. 1704Swift Batt. Bks. (1711) 261 He..had wander'd long in search of some Enterprize. 1748Anson's Voy. Introd., A Voyage round the World is still considered as an enterprize of a very singular nature. 1814Chalmers Evid. Chr. Revel. viii. 215 We must restrain the enterprizes of fancy. 1875Helps Ess. Organiz. Daily Life 132 In those enterprises which we call joint-stock undertakings.
b. abstr. Engagement in such undertakings.
1769Junius Lett. iii. 17 You ought to have pointed out some instances of..well-concerted enterprise. 1783Watson Philip III, II. vi. 151 Times of national enterprize. 1806Beresford in Lond. Gaz. 13 Sept. 1213/2 Some of the existing Duties bear too hard on the Enterprize of Commerce. 1829I. Taylor Enthus. iv. (1867) 71 Theology offers no field to men fond of intellectual enterprise.
2. Disposition or readiness to engage in undertakings of difficulty, risk, or danger; daring spirit.
1475Bk. Noblesse 20 Was never so worshipfulle an act of entreprise done in suche a case. 1540–54Croke Ps. (1844) 22 Thyne entrepryse dyd neuer quayle. 1792Burke Heads Consid. Pr. Aff. Wks. VII. 93 In such [piratical] expeditions enterprize supplies the want of discipline. 1869Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xiv. 332 With an expression of contempt for his lack of enterprise.
†3. The action of taking in hand; management, superintendence. Obs.
1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) D vij b, Some abode there charged with the enterpryse of the sonne. 1803in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1845) V. 370 The enterprise and conduct of the Fleet devolved on Lord Nelson.
4. Special Comb. enterprise zone Econ., a designated zone within an area of high unemployment and low investment, usu. in an inner city, where the government encourages new enterprise by granting financial concessions such as tax and rate relief to businesses.
1978Times 27 June 2/1 A suggestion that ‘*enterprise zones’ should be created in Britain's derelict inner cities..was made last night by Sir Geoffrey Howe..in a speech to the Bow Group. 1981Record (Columbia, S. Carolina) 31 Aug. d9 Cities would design projects under the ‘enterprise zone program’ using tax breaks, deregulation or other investment incentives such as job training. 1984Daily Tel. 24 Sept. 17/7 Enterprise zones and the like..have had an imperceptible effect on jobs.
Add:[1.] c. spec. A commercial or industrial undertaking, esp. one involving risk; a firm, company, or business.
1862A. Helps Organiz. Daily Life 28 In those enterprises which we call joint-stock undertakings. 1888[see private enterprise n.]. 1930Economist 5 July 22/1 During the past month big Dutch enterprises have had to have recourse to foreign markets, chiefly London, for their capital requirements. 1966T. Pynchon Crying of Lot 49 iii. 63 An import-export firm bought the bones, sold them to a fertilizer enterprise. 1976T. Stoppard Dirty Linen 34 The press, you see, is not just an ordinary commercial enterprise like selling haberdashery. 1986D. Howell Blind Victory i. 9 The expansion of light and soft industries and enterprises in previously predominantly agricultural areas and market towns.
[4.] enterprise culture, a model of capitalist society which specifically emphasizes and encourages entrepreneurial activity and speculation, financial self-reliance, etc.
1980Economist 9 Feb. 21/1 Sir Keith himself would agree that industrial policy now begins and ends with the treasury: an economic policy designed to foster the ‘*enterprise culture’. 1985Daily Tel. 25 Mar. 14/5 Exhortations to imitate the American ‘enterprise culture’..ignore the deeply ingrained British contempt for the materialist values of the United States. 1989Blitz Jan. 11/1 At the age of 27 she has embraced the enterprise culture and established Upstage Theatre.
▪ II. enterprise, v. arch.|ˈɛntəpraɪz|
Forms as in n.
[partly f. prec.; partly f. Fr. entrepris, pa. pple. of entreprendre (see prec.), from which vb. the senses are chiefly taken.]
1. trans. To take in hand (a work), take upon oneself (a condition), attempt or undertake (a war, an expedition, etc.), run the risk of or venture upon (danger). arch.
1485Malory Arthur Contents vii. v, How Trystram enterprysed the Bataylle to fyght for the trewage of Cornwayl. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 51 It boldeth hym to..enterpryse without feare suche ieoperdy. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices 13 Matrimonie..is not to bee enterprised.. vnaduisedlye. 1602Patericke tr. Gentillet agst. Machiavel 314 Appius could not obtaine the tyrannie which hee had enterprised. 1691Locke Money Wks. 1727 II. 89 This was enterprized by a Prince, who could stretch his Prerogative very far upon his People. 1728Woolston Disc. Miracles iv. 55 That the Bearers of the poor man should enterprise a trouble and a difficulty. 1788Cowper Corr. (1824) II. 174 Impossible for Mrs. Unwin to enterprize a cake. 1807G. Chalmers Caledonia I. i. ii. 57 Roman ambition first enterprized the conquest of the common parent of the British nations. 1871Ruskin Fors Clav. v. 12 What the Times calls ‘Railway Enterprise’. You Enterprised a Railroad through the valley.
†b. with inf. (rarely with clause) as obj. Obs.
1481Caxton Myrr. iii. xxiv. 193 Them that haue late enterprysed agayn right and reson to make warre. 1523Skelton Garl. Laurel 388 Maister Chaucer..nobly enterprysed How that our Englysshe myght freshly be ennewed. 1581Marbeck Bk. of Notes 497 Ananias, thou hast enterprised to lye vnto the Holie ghost. 1605Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. ii. §13 To circle the Earth..was not done nor enterprised till these later times. 1617Hales Gold. Rem. (1688) 7 He therefore enterpris'd to handle this Argument.
†2. With personal obj.:
a. To take in hand, attack.
b. In pa. pple. [after Fr. entrepris]: Embarrassed, non-plussed, rendered helpless.
c1450Merlin xx. 315 Whan the kynge Arthur saugh hem so enterprised. 1480Caxton Ovid's Met. xii. xviii, I am so moche enterprised of dystresse and anger. c1510More Picus Wks. 26 He lieth at hande, and shall vs enterprise. 1513Bradshaw St. Werburge ii. 135 Danes and Norwaies enterprised this lande.
†3. intr. To make an attempt, undertake an operation, form a design. Of military commanders: To direct operations, make an attack (upon). Cf. Fr. entreprendre sur. Obs.
a1527tr. Machiavelli's Prince iii. (1883) 25 France..with its own forces alone, had been able to have enterprised upon Naples. 1588J. Udall Diotrephes (Arb.) 28 Be sure of the court, before you enterprise any other where. 1640Yorke Union Hon. 37 One Robert Huldern..with 15,000 strong enterprized for Yorke. 1651tr. De las Coveras Hist. Don Fenise 207 He had a design to enterprise upon the honour of his owne Sister. 1701Collier M. Aurel. (1726) 296 We should enterprize with a reserve for disappointment. 1732Neal Hist. Purit. I. 111 It behoved the learned, grave, and godly ministers of Christ to enterprize farther. 1813Sir R. Wilson Diary II. 248 Buonaparte..might, perhaps, enterprize towards Prague.
Hence † ˈenterprised ppl. a., that has been undertaken, ventured upon.
1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 193 b, The Duke and the Lantzgraue made aunswere..recyting the causes of this enterprised defence. 1572R. H. tr. Lauaterus' Ghostes (1596) 33 He woulde persist in his enterprised purpose. |