"enterprise," early 15c., verbal noun from undertake (v.). An Old English word for this was underfangenes.

mid-15c., "an undertaking, act of taking upon oneself," from Old French susception or directly from Latin susceptionem (nominative susceptio) "an undertaking," noun of action from past-participle stem of suscipere "to take; admit, accept; sustain, support" (see susceptible). As "action or capacity of taking something into the mind; passive mental reception," by 1756.

early 15c., "an undertaking," formerly also enterprize, from Old French enterprise "an undertaking," noun use of fem. past participle of entreprendre "undertake, take in hand" (12c.), from entre- "between" (see entre-) + prendre "to take," contraction of prehendere "to catch hold of, seize" (from prae- "before," see pre-, + -hendere, from PIE root *ghend- "to seize, take"). Abstract sense of "adventurous disposition, readiness to undertake challenges, spirit of daring" is from late 15c.

1590s, "act of managing by direction or manipulation," from manage + -ment. Sense of "act of managing by physical manipulation" is from 1670s. Meaning "governing body, directors of an undertaking collectively" (originally of a theater) is from 1739.

"eager to undertake, prompt to attempt," 1610s, present-participle adjective from the verb enterprise (late 15c.), from the noun enterprise. Until mid-19c. (at least in Britain) mostly in a bad sense: "scheming, ambitious, foolhardy." Earlier (1560s) as a verbal noun meaning "action of undertaking."

mid-15c., preferrement, "furtherance of an undertaking; advancement or promotion in status; a prior claim or right," from prefer + -ment. From 1530s as "a superior place or office," especially in the Church.

"reception of one part within another," 1707, literally "a taking in," from Latin intus "within" (see ento-) + susceptionem (nominative susceptio) "a taking up, a taking in hand, undertaking," noun of action from past participle stem of suscipere "to take, catch, take up, lift up" (see susceptible).

c. 1400, "fortune, chance," shortening of aventure (n.), a variant of adventure (n.); also from Anglo-French venture. Sense of "risky undertaking" first recorded 1560s; meaning "enterprise of a business nature" is recorded from 1580s. Venture capital is attested from 1943.

mid-15c., sensat, "endowed with sense; capable of sensation," from Late Latin sensatus "gifted with sense," from sensus "perception, feeling, undertaking, meaning" (see sense (n.)). By 1847 as "perceived by the senses." From 1937 in sociology.