entreprendre

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French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Middle French, from Old French entreprendre (to begin something, undertake). By surface analysis, entre +‎ prendre.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.tʁə.pʁɑ̃dʁ/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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entreprendre

  1. to undertake

Conjugation

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This verb is conjugated on the model of prendre. That means it is quite irregular, with the following patterns:

  • In the infinitive, in the singular forms of the present indicative, and in the future and the conditional, it is conjugated like rendre, perdre, etc. (sometimes called the regular -re verbs).
  • In the plural forms of the present indicative and imperative, in the imperfect indicative, in the present subjunctive, and in the present participle, it is conjugated like appeler or jeter, using the stem entreprenn- before mute 'e' and the stem entrepren- elsewhere.
  • In the past participle, and in the past historic and the imperfect subjunctive, its conjugation resembles that of mettre.

Descendants

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  • Polish: przedsiębrać, przedsięwziąć (calque)

Further reading

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Middle French

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Verb

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entreprendre

  1. to undertake
    • 1552, François Rabelais, Le Tiers Livre:
      Quand les Geantz entreprindrent guerre contre les Dieux
      When the Giants took up war against the Gods
    • 1595, Michel de Montaigne, Essais:
      Il vous siera bien, leur dit-il, de vouloir entreprendre de juger de la teste de celuy, par le moyen duquel vous avez l'authorité de juger de tout le monde.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Old French

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Etymology

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From entre +‎ prendre, by calque of Frankish *underneman (to undertake), from *under (between, among) + *neman (to take). Compare Old High German untarneman (undertake) (German Unternehmen), Old English underniman (undertake), Dutch ondernemen (undertake).

Verb

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entreprendre

  1. to capture; to take; to abduct
  2. to undertake (a responsibility, etc.)
  3. to protect
  4. to take (reciprocally)
    • Puis s'entreprendent par les dois
      Then they took each other by the fingers

Conjugation

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This verb conjugates as a third-group verb. This verb has irregularities in its conjugation. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Descendants

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References

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