Also 7 in-. [f. as prec. + -ING2.] a. That undertakes. b. Forward and prompt to undertake. In early use chiefly in bad sense, foolhardy, also ambitious, scheming: now chiefly in favorable sense, full of the spirit of enterprise.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Fol., An enterprizing foole needs little wit.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 139. For Mr. Bayes is so interprising you know, Look too’t, Ile doo’t.
1720. Dr. Wilcocks, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 440, IV. 321. The King of Prussia … has a brisk enterprising look.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. 364. Diocletian … justly dreaded the enterprising spirit of Carausius.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 605–6. The sagacious Caermarthen and the enterprising Monmouth agreed in blaming these cautious tactics.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. i. 36. Marco Polo … was one of a company of enterprising Venetian merchants.
Hence Enterprisingly adv.
1822. New Monthly Mag., V. 298. The claims which he had so enterprisingly advanced.
1887. Times, 19 Oct., 7/4. Some couple of thousand of the roughest enterprisingly made their way to Trafalgar-square yesterday morning.
