Forms: 4–7 entre, 4–6 -ee, 6–7 entrey, -ie, -ye, 6 entery (-ie), 5– entry. [ME. entre(e, a. Fr. entrée, corresp. to Pr. intrada, Sp., Pg. entrada, It. intrata:—late L. intrāta, f. intrāre (Fr. entrer) to ENTER.]
1. The action of coming or going in; the coming (of an actor) upon a stage; the entering into or invading (a country), etc. In phrases, To make († have) entry. Also fig.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 179. Now has R. entre, and Acres taken es.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2961. Als Sir Ywaine made entre.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 96. [He] thought … of what purpoos he mighte make to her his entree.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 723. The king of Englandes entrie and invasions.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 507. Their [Platonists’] opinion touching the birth of soules, their entrie into the bodie, and the pollution which they receiue thereby.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 129. No actor on a stage … can make a more regular entry, or a more punctual exit!
1833. Sir J. Herschel, Astron., viii. 258. The entry and egress of the planet’s center [across the sun’s discj.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xiii. (1856), 99. Since our entry into the ice, we were comparatively without visits from birds.
1866. Crump, Banking, x. 226. The first entry of gold into the mint for coinage purposes occurred 18 Edward III., 1343.
fig. 1587. Fleming, Cont. Holinshed, III. 1550/2. Then began such an entrie of acquaintance, knowledge, love … betwixt them.
1604. James I., Counterbl. to Tobacco (Arb.), 99. The first entry thereof [i.e., of Tobacco taking] among vs.
1690. Temple, Ess. Learn., Wks. 1731, I. 167. Very soon after the Entry of Learning upon the Scene of Christendom.
1833. Chalmers, Const. Man (1835), I. iii. 155. Finds entry into the mind.
b. The ceremonial entrance (of a king, etc.).
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), O vj. Thus this emperour adressed his entre with his capitaynes.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 27. His entry and coronation were managed with such magnificence that the country suffered much for it.
1847. Sarah Austin, trans. Ranke’s Hist. Ref., III. 261. Their solemn entry into the imperial city.
† c. The action of boarding (a ship). Obs.
1591. Raleigh, Last Fight Rev. (Arb.), 21. To make any more assaults or entries.
† d. ? The paying of formal visits, ‘making calls.’ Obs. rare.
1755. T. Amory, Mem. (1769), I. 219. She can even pass the Sunday evenings away at cards and in visiting, and waste at play and entry the hours of the sacred day. Ibid., II. 81. They renounced custom and false notions, the propensities and entries, the noise and splendor of the world.
2. Law. a. The actual taking possession of lands or tenements, by entering or setting foot on the same.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 16 § 1. Thentre, season and possession of your seid Subgiet … into all the premisses. Ibid. (1540), 32 Hen. VIII., c. 2 § 2. No … person … shall … maintein any … writ o[f] entry vpon disseason done to any of his auncestors.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636), 23. Where a man findeth a piece of Land that no other possesseth or hath title unto, and he that so findeth it doth enter, this Entry gaineth a Property.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, I. xii. He’d warrant he soon suffered a recovery by writ of entry.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U. S. (1822), 271. Mr. Birkbeck informs me he has made entry of a large tract of land.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., I. xvi. 298. I advise you, as a friend, not to make entry on those lands.
b. One of the acts essential to complete the offence of burglary.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 227. As for the [burglarious] entry, any the least degree of it, with any part of the body, or with an instrument held in the hand, is sufficient; as, to step over the threshold.
† 3. a. A dance introduced between the parts of an entertainment; an interlude. Cf. Fr. entrée or entrée de ballet (Littré). b. Music. = ENTRÉE 3.
1651. Evelyn, Mem. (1657), I. 276. A masque at Court, where the French King in person danced five entries.
1675. Shadwell, Psyche, I. Wks. 1720, II. 16. Then an Entry danc’d by four Sylvans.
1728. R. North, Memoirs Musick (1846), 102. The Entrys of Baptist ever were and will be valued as most stately and compleat harmony.
† 4. transf. a. The entering upon an office; the accession of a sovereign. b. The becoming a member of an institution. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 310. For symonye don in here entre.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 107. To make ye paiement of his couenauns for his entre.
c. 1500. Blowbol’s Test., 45, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 94. Of so grete reverens werre the universities, That men toke entrie knelyng on their knees.
1576. Thanksgiv., in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847), 548. The day of the Queens Majestys entry to her reign.
† 5. The right or opportunity of entering; admission, ENTRANCE. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13079. Þe king þam lete haf fre entre.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 1884. The galyes … had nigh won entrie.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 272. Now has þe Baliol a stounde lorn issu & entre.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 118. Þanne may alle Cristene come … and cleyme þere entre.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), II. 195 b/2. The entre of the cyte of Athenes forsayd was graunted unto hym.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 15 a. Yet shall hee have free entree, egresse, and regresse in the same house.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., I. 191/5. In this discourse, he, first, saw Pallas standing Vnbidden entrie.
† 6. The coming in (of a period of time); the entrance upon (a journey, work, etc.). Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13259. To nazareth he went again … Tua dais in aueril entre.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2248. What proffet any prowes with a prowde entre, To begyn, any goode, on a ground febill.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiii. 191. A-boute the entre of may.
1535. Gardiner, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xxx. 212. I required your Advice in mine Entry and Beginning thereof.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 618. When the Duke of Yorke had thus framed the entry into hys long entended jorney.
1587. Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 166. Some making their entrie [at supper] with egs.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 555/2. Not to stay longer in the entry.
† b. The preface or opening words (of a book, etc.). Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 369. Alle þat byfor es wryten … Es bot als an entre of þis buk.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 52. The Poet … for hys entry, calleth the … Muses to inspire into him a good inuention.
1659. Pearson, Creed, 318. And thus even in the entry of the Article we meet with the Incarnation of the Son of God.
7. concr. That by which any place open or closed is entered; a door; a gate; an approach or passage to a country, etc.; the mouth of a river. In a dwelling, an entrance-hall; lobby. Also fig.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 158. Bute entre on þer nys, And þat ys vp on harde roches.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 908. Enforced were þe entres with egre men fele.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 1059. Her [the hive’s] entre tourne it faire upon the southe.
1535. Coverdale, Acts xii. 14. She opened not the entrye for gladnes.
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 669. It was a passage and entrey into the Countrey of LACONIA.
1598–1600. Hakluyt, Voy., 5. At the entrie of which riuer he stayed his course.
1605. Shaks., Macb., II. ii. 66. I heare a knocking at the South entry.
a. 1652. Brome, Eng. Moor, II. ii. Her ’s a letter thrown into the entry.
1727. Swift, Descr. Morning. Prepar’d to scrub the entry and the stairs.
1826. T. J. Wharton, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., I. 156. He tells truly who signed that paper in the entry or porch.
fig. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1763. Þat es entre and way … Til lyf or ded.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melibeus, ¶ 73. Werre at his bygynnyng hath so greet an entre and so large, that every wight may entre.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 14. Humilite is the furst entre and wey of frenship.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, XI. Introd. 312. The first booke was a ground, and a necessarye entrye to all the rest following.
1855. O. W. Holmes, Poems, 191. Gone, like tenants that quit without warning, Down the back entry of time.
¶ A sense ‘innermost part, sanctuary’ has been erroneously inferred from the following passage, in which Chaucer confuses L. adytum with aditus.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. i. 30. Sentences … drawen oute of myne entre, þat is to seyne out of myn informacioun.
b. transf. A passage between houses, whether or not leading to an open space beyond; an alley. Now only dial. † Also, an avenue, approach to a house (obs.).
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1600. All maister men þat on molde dwellis, Onestly enabit in entris aboute.
1632. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Iron Age, III. Wks. 1874, III. 391. Through many a corner and blind entries mouth.
a. 1639. W. Whateley, Prototypes, I. xxi. (1640), 260. A darke entrie leading to the glorious palace of glory.
1694. Phillips, Life Milton, xx. A pretty Garden House … at the end of an Entry.
1792. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Odes Kien Long, Wks. 1812, III. 155. The souls of many Kings are vulgar Entries … A long, dark, dangerous, dreary Way, past finding.
1866. R. Chambers, Ess., Ser. I. 129. A chimney-sweep … has been established for years in one of the murky entries.
Mod. The entrance to these houses [in Birmingham] is not in the front which faces the street, but in the ‘entry’ [i.e., passage common to two adjoining houses].
c. Hunting. (See quots.)
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., I. 93/1. For what Necromanticke spells, are Rut, Vault, Slot, Pores, and Entryes [etc.].
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Hart, Let him draw into Covert as he passes observing the size of entries.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. II. v. 325/1. When a deer has passed into a thicket, leaving marks whereby his bulk may be guessed, it is called an entry.
d. Mining. (See quot.)
1881. Raymond, Mining Gloss., Entry, an adit. Applied to the main gangway in some coal mines.
† 8. A room or house into which one enters to lodge; a lodging, hostel. Obs. exc. Hist.
1544. Late Exp. Scotl., in Arb., Garner, I. 125. Upon the approachment of the men to their entries.
1852. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 412. All scholars should be members of some College, Hall, or Entry, under a responsible head.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. v. 258. Officers of the collegiate institutions—colleges, halls, inns, and entries.
9. The action of entering or registering something in a list, record, account-book, etc. Also concr. a statement, etc., entered upon a record; an ‘item’ in a list or an account-book.
1553. Grimalde, Cicero’s Offices, III. (1558), 163. The enteries and ponnishments of the censors declare as much.
1562. Act 5 Eliz., c. 12 § 6. The said Clerk … shall register … a brief Declaration or Entry of the said Licence.
a. 1626. Bacon, New Atl. (1658), 3 (J.). A Notary, made an Entry of this Act.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 15. Fees … for … examinations, filings of writs, entries, [etc.].
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xix. 154. The sailor … appealed … to the entry in the books.
1849. Stovel, Canne’s Necess., Introd. 11. The following entries, copied from the Lords’ Journal … determine the date.
1863. Mary Howitt, trans. F. Bremer’s Greece, I. viii. 259. Making an entry in my diary, of the daily occurrences.
b. Double Entry: the method of bookkeeping in which every item entered to the credit of one account in the ledger is entered to the debit of another, and vice versa. Single Entry: the method in which each transaction (as a general rule) is entered only in one account.
1741. Mair, Book-keeping Methodiz’d (ed. 2), 14. Italian Book-keeping is said to be a Method of Keeping Accompts by double Entry because [etc.].
1883. Cariss, Book-keeping, 3. Book-keeping by Double Entry … was devised centuries ago, and has since become … generally adopted.
c. The list of names of the competitors (for a race, etc.).
1885. Truth, 28 May, 854/1. The entry for the Royal Hunt Cup is smaller than usual.
d. The entering at the custom-house of the nature and quantity of goods in a ship’s cargo. Bill of entry: see quot. 1809. Port of entry: the port at which imported goods are entered.
1692. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 300. If ye entrey be right.
1715. Lond. Gaz., No. 5311/3. Keeper of the Books of Entry of all Ships coming into the Port of London.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 385. The increase on the face of our entries is immense during the four years of war.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 130. Bill of entry, a note specifying goods entered at the custom house.
10. attrib. and Comb., as entry-book, -clerk, -door, -end, -mat, -money, -mouth, -pegs, -winning.
1678. Tryals of W. Ireland, etc. 47. As appears by their *Entry-Books.
1880. Quart. Rev., No. 297. 12. Lord Bolingbroke, There is no trace of his residence to be found in the entry-books of the Dean.
1751. Phil. Trans., XLVII. xlii. 280. An *entry-clerk in the court of Chancery.
1526. Tindale, Acts xii. 13. Peter knocked at the *entry dore.
a. 1804. J. Mather, Songs (Sheffield, 1862), 88. Who tell their fond tales at an *entry end.
1855. Whitby Gloss., ‘The *entry mat,’ the street door mat.
1864. A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock, 210. Each member to pay the usual *entry-money.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., *Entry mouth, sb. the end of an entry or lane, where it opens upon a street.
1865. Mrs. Whitney, Gayworthys, II. 169. The two women lifted thin gingham bonnets from the *entry-pegs.
1471. Hist. Arriv. Edw. IV. (Camd. Soc.), 6. At the first *Entrie-winning of his right to the Royme and Crowne of England.
