Part 763

Their hands can not perform their enterprise.

Job v. 12.

2. Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities; as, a man of great enterprise.

En"ter*prise, v. t. 1. To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon. [R.]

The business must be enterprised this night.

Dryden.

What would I not renounce or enterprise for you!

T. Otway.

2. To treat with hospitality; to entertain. [Obs.]

Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprise.

Spenser.

En"ter*prise, v. i. To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or difficult. [R.] Pope.

En"ter*pri`ser (?), n. One who undertakes enterprises. Sir J. Hayward.

En"ter*pri`sing (?), a. Having a disposition for enterprise; characterized by enterprise; resolute, active or prompt to attempt; as, an enterprising man or firm. -- En"ter*pri`sing*ly, adv.

En`ter*tain" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Entertaining.] [F. entretenir; entre between (L. inter) + tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Tenable.] 1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.

<! p. 497 !>

You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.

Shak.

2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained unawares.

Heb. xiii. 2.

3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation, etc.

The weary time she can not entertain.

Shak.

4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain a proposal.

I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.

De Quincey.

A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.