emprise means an enterprise or endeavor, especially a quest or adventure. It carries an Arena rating of 1809, earned across 45 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, emprise ranks #977 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,767 of 17,105 for Most Storied Words, #2,065 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #2,390 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words.
emprise is pronounced /ɛmˈpɹaɪz/.
Why “emprise” is a great word
EMPRISE — [Noun] A chivalrous or daringly adventurous enterprise, imbued with a romantic or heroic spirit. From Middle English emprise, from Old French emprise, emprinse, from Late Latin *imprensa, from Latin in- ("in, on") + prehendere ("to seize, take"). Unlike "enterprise" (a general, often commercial project) or "feat" (a discrete, accomplished act of skill), an emprise is defined by the knightly quest, the peril undertaken for honor’s sake. It is the vow sworn on a sword's hilt in a torchlit hall, the solitary journey into an unmapped wood, or the fool setting sail for an island drawn on the chart—a venture whose true weight lies in the gravity of its commencement, a ghost of purpose in an age that has forgotten how to make promises to the wind.
Etymology
Noun is from Middle English emprise, from Old French emprise, emprinse, from Late Latin *imprensa, from Latin in- + prehendere (“to take”). The verb is from emprisen, from the same source.
noun
- An enterprise or endeavor, especially a quest or adventure.e.g.“[N]oble minds of yore allyed were, / In braue poursuit of cheualrous emprize, / That none did others safety despize […]” — 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
- The qualities which prompt one to undertake difficult and dangerous exploits; chivalric prowess.e.g.“I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise; / But here thy sword can do thee little stead.” — 1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Rob
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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