emprise
/ɛmˈprʌɪz/(also emprize) Now archaic
noun
1A purpose, an intention. rare after Middle English.
- †of no emprise: to no purpose; useless, pointless..
2An undertaking, an enterprise; especially one of a bold, adventurous, or chivalrous nature.
3Martial prowess; courage, daring; enterprising character, (in earlier use) especially as typical of a knight. Now rare.
4Renown, glory, achievement. rare after Middle English.
Origin
Middle English; earliest use found in Body and Soul. From Anglo-Norman enprise, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French emprise (French emprise) an enterprise, undertaking, purpose, scheme, plan, enterprising character, initiative, courage, use as noun of the past participle of emprendre to undertake, to engage in, begin, to arrange, organize, (reflexive) to make an agreement (with someone), from an unattested post-classical Latin form *imprehendere to take in hand from classical Latin im- + prehendere.