c.1300, "chivalrous endeavor," from Old French emprise (12c.) "enterprise, venture, adventure, undertaking," from Vulgar Latin *imprensa (source of Provençal empreza, Spanish empresa, Italian impresa), from *imprendere "to undertake," from in- (see in-(2)) + prehendere "to take" (see prehensile). Archaic in English; in French now with a literal sense "a hold, a grip."