early 15c., "an undertaking," from Old French enterprise "an undertaking," noun use of fem. past participle of entreprendre "undertake, take in hand," from entre- "between" (see entre-) + prendre "to take," contraction of prehendere (see prehensile). Abstract sense of "readiness to undertake challenges, spirit of daring" is from late 15c.
body
A business, generally a large one.
(1994-11-22)
city, Coffee county, southeastern Alabama, U.S., about 90 miles (145 km) southeast of Montgomery. It was founded in 1881 by John Henry Carmichael near the community of Drake Eye. In 1882 the post office was moved from Drake Eye to the new community of Enterprise, named at the suggestion of a Baptist minister who considered it an enterprising undertaking. Its prosperity was based on cotton until the boll weevil ravaged the area (1915-16), creating a need for a more diversified economy. The unusual Boll Weevil Monument (1919) is the only memorial in the world glorifying a pest and symbolizes diversification from cotton to peanuts (groundnuts) and other crops
an entity formed for the purpose of carrying on commercial enterprise. Such an organization is predicated on systems of law governing contract and exchange, property rights, and incorporation.