▪ I. † ˈenter, n. Obs.
[f. the verb.
(The form entre may in some instances belong to this word; but the examples cannot be distinguished from those in which it belongs to entry.)]
1. The action of entering; the power or right of entering; a legal entry; concr. a means or way of entrance; a passage.
| c 1430 Lydg. Bochas viii. xiii. (1554) 185 a, Gaue hym enter and possession. 1563 Bp. Gardiner in Foxe A. & M. 732 b, My brother of S. Dauids, maie like a champion with his sword in his hand make enter for the rest. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 141 His enter and exit shall bee strangling a Snake. |
2. [Confused with Fr. enter to graft.]
| 1693 Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. II. 105 Graffing and Enter, or Ingraffing, are Sinonimous Terms. |
▪ II. enter, v.
(ˈɛntə(r))
Forms: 3–8 entre, (3 entri, 4 entere, entur), 4–5 entree, entyr(e, 4– enter.
[a. Fr. entrer = Pr. entrar, intrar, Sp., Pg. entrar, It. entrare, intrare:—L. intrāre, related to inter between, intrō inwards, intrā within.
The L. vb. was used both as trans., and as intr. with in = into; in Fr. the intr. use was alone adopted, and passed into Eng. The trans. senses 9–15 are derived from the similar senses of enter into (1–8), perh. with some influence from Lat.]
I. To go or come in.
* intr. (Often conjugated with be.)
1. To go or come into a place, building, room, etc.; to pass within the boundaries of a country, region, portion of space, medium, etc. Also fig. a. Const. into, † in (= ‘into’), rarely † unto. Now largely superseded by the trans. use 10, but retained where the notion of penetration into the interior of a place is sought to be emphasized.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 4488 In a castel he entred thare. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 38, I entred in þat erber grene. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 399 That ilke nyght, That we ben entred into schippes boord. c 1400 Destr. Troy 3007 Honerable Elan was entrid in þe tempull. c 1400 Mandeville v. (1839) 37 In his tyme, entred the gode Kyng Edward of Englond in Syrye. Ibid. 56 At that Cytee entrethe the Ryvere of Nyle into the See. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 263 Syr for Gods sake enter againe into your Ship. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 5 We entred into a Woody Mountain. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) III. 339 Enter into it [harbour] then at this time..while day-light remains. 1843 Marryat M. Violet xxxv. 290 We..entered into a noble forest. |
| fig. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 19 Now [O Apollo] entreth in my brest anoon. 1547 Homilies i. Good Works (1859) 58 What man..doth not see and lament to have entered into Christs religion such false doctrine. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 284 ¶1 When this Humour enters into the Head of a Female. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 450 A spirit of reverence enters into the young man's soul. |
b. simply. To come into the place indicated by the context. Of an actor: To come upon the stage; in the stage-directions of plays used constantly in 3rd pers. imper. sing. and pl. Also fig.
As to the grammatical character of ‘enter’ as a stage direction, cf. the Lat. directions in Calisto & Melibœa 1520, which has frequently intret, exeat, and those in Udall's Roister Doister 1553, where exeat, exeant, cantent, etc. appear throughout; also Bales' Kynge Johan: ‘Here the Kyng delevyr the crowne to the Cardynall’, ‘Her go owt Sedwsion’, ‘Here the Pope go out’, ‘Here cum Dyssimulacyon syngyng of the letany’, etc.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 8341 (Cott.) For-þi hir enterd bersabe. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §12 The howr of Mercurie entryng vnder my west orisonte at eue. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xx. (1495) The stocke of boxe..hath noo poores where ayre myghte entree. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9107 Þan vnarmyt he entrid, euyn to þe citie. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxxv. 75 Ramsay til hym coym in hy And gert hym entre. 1557 tr. More's Edw. V (1641) 16 When he is once entred, he creepeth forth so farre. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 186 She [Thisbie] is to enter, and I am to spy Her through the vvall. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iv. ix. §3 A way made for Paganism or for extreme barbarity to enter. 1635 Austin Medit. 194 John..did..before Christ entred, play the Mediator. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 231 The Air..entring by the Furnace-pipes. 1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Prov. Mass. ii. 138 The minister..discovered near 20 entring. 1839 Thirlwall Greece VII. liv. 41 The king and his troops entered first through a postern. |
c. with pleonastic in (adv.). Somewhat arch. or rhetorical.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 47 Þei entrede in at Temse mouþ. c 1325 Coer de L. 75 And there we may, without dent, Enter in now, verament. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. viii. 114 And entryde in wytht hys menyhe. a 1535 More De quat. Noviss. Wks. 81/2 While he wer entring in at y⊇ gate. 1847 Tennyson Princ. v. 472 Empanoplied and plumed We entered in. |
2. Law. To make entry (into lands) as a formal assertion of ownership; to take possession. Const. † in, into, and simply. (For to enter upon see 9 a.)
| 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 12 b, For and he do, the lorde may entre as in landes forfayte to hym. a 1619 Dalton Country Just. lxxxiii. (1630) 213 If after the death of the father a stranger..entereth into his land by force. 1721 St. German's Doctor & Stud. 32 Though his successor have right to the lands, yet he may not enter. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. Entry, This entry into lands is where a man enters into or takes possession of any lands, etc., in his proper person. 1818 Cruise Digest II. 375 Upon the death of the testator his sister entered and married. |
3. To penetrate into the substance of anything; to be plunged deeply. Const. into; also simply.
| 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xxxiii. 28 a/1 The grounde was soo softe and moryssh that they entred up to the raynes. 1539 Bible (Great) Ps. cv. 18 The iron entered into his soul. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 326 The sword of Michael..deep entring, shar'd All his right side. |
† b. fig. (a) To be absorbed (in thought). (b) In phrase, to enter far within (a person), i.e. to have great influence over (him). Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 3844 Euermore ymaginand & entrond in thoghtes. 1601 Holland Pliny xx. xiv, Vindex so far entred within him, as he obtained whatsoever he would at his hands. |
4. To become a member in a society, etc. Cf. 23 c.
| 1389 Eng. Gilds (1870) 3 Who þ{supt} entryth in þe same ffraternite. 1674 Brevint Saul at Endor 266 By entring into a Confraternity. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1730 He fairly told Taylor that he could not..suffer him to enter where he knew he could not have an able tutor. 1854 Prospective Rev. X. xl. 525 He..entered at Oriel College. a 1891 Mod. He entered at St. John's College. |
† 5. To come or be brought into any state or condition (sometimes with additional notion of place); to fall into a disorder, etc. Const. into, occas. to, unto. Obs.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 23368 (Fairf.) Þa iois sere þat ihesus crist has diȝt til his qua-sim mai entre in-to þat blis. 1382 Wyclif Matt. xxv. 21 Entre thou into the ioye of thi lord. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 238/1 Alle they that so consented entred in to frenesye and myght not be hool. 1535 Coverdale Matt. xviii. 9 To entre in vnto life. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 675 Determined to take part with king Edwarde, with whome..he in small space entred into great grace and high favour. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden 155 Those that be entred into a Ptisick. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 251 ¶6 He that has entred into Guilt has bid Adieu to Rest. |
6. To make a beginning, engage (in any action, course of conduct, discourse, etc.). a. Const. in (arch.), into, occas. † to.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 8 To the entent that thei might praie and entre in orisones. 1552 Abp. Hamilton Catech. (1884) 28 Afoir we enter to the special declaratioun of the x commandis. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. Pref., There be many who will enter into the reading of my booke for their instruction. 1611 Bible Ps. cxliii. 2 Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 11/1 Though the War was entred in, all hope of obtaining money to carry it on was even desperate. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 426 ¶1 He entered into the following Relation. 1841 Brewster Mart. Sc. vi. (1856) 89 The commissioners entered into an active correspondence with Galileo. 1855 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. II. 264 We entered into conversation without having been introduced. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. viii. 113 The returning officer has not..any power of entering into a scrutiny of votes. 1879 M{supc}Carthy Own Times II. 24 Ireland would be entered in rebellion. |
† b. simply. Also of a period of time or state of things: To begin. Obs.
| 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iii. 13 Began and entred with the matter that he came for. 1563 Shute Archit. D iij a, To beginne with the Pedestal of Corinthia, ye shal enter thus. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 149 There entred a verie fervent affection and good will between them. 1669 Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 41 Imploring His blessing for the year entering. 1688 Penn. Archives i. 107 The winter..is now entred with some severity. |
7. intr. for refl. of branch II. (See 20 c, 23 c.)
8. to enter into († in): in various senses, in which the intrans. vb. does not occur simply. † a. To look at a particular place in (a mathematical table). Obs. So Fr. entrer dans. Cf. 16.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §44 With so many entere into thy tabelis in þe furst lyne. |
b. To take on oneself (an engagement, a relation, the duties of an office, etc.). Sometimes in indirect passive. † to enter into religion: to embrace a monastic life. Cf. 14.
| c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 35 We..bieþ i-entred in-to cristes seruise. c 1290 Lives Saints (1887) 125 For-to entri into Answere: þare he ne ouȝte nouȝt to do. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 349 Who is beterid by entryng into þes ordris. c 1386 Chaucer Merch. T. 312 Auyseth yow..How that ye entren in to mariage. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxi. §2 Such kind of baptism barred men afterwards from entering into holy orders. a 1631 Donne Paradoxes (1652) 28 The Allegoricall death of entring into Religion. 1647 May Hist. Parl. ii. v. 92 That they all entered into Pay. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 79 ¶3, I have a mind to put off entering into Matrimony till another Winter is over my Head. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 388 Our great man was entered in Religion, as they called it. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. i. iii. 140 Trade..does not care for the religious tenets of those who offer to enter into relations with it. |
c. To become a party to; to bind oneself by (a league, treaty, etc.); to append one's name to (a bond). See also recognizance, security.
| 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings xxiii. 3 And all the people entred in to [Wyclif: assentyde to] the couenaunt. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iv. iv. 128 Master, I am heere entred in bond for you. 1593 ― Rich. II, v. ii. 65 'Tis nothing but some bond, that he is enter'd into. 1637 Decree Star Chamb. §16 in Milton Areop. (Arb.) 16 The like Bond shall be entred into by all. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 69 ¶1 A Subject of the Great Mogul entering into a League with one of the Czar of Moscovy. 1767 T. Hutchinson Hist. Prov. Mass. ii. 201 They entred anew into articles of submission. 1802 M. Edgeworth Mor. T. (1816) I. 220 The agreement, into which he had entered. 1886 Manch. Exam. 2 Jan. 5/3 He refused to enter into a treaty with the Indian Government. |
d. To engage in the consideration of (a subject).
| 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 9 To entre into another matter. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 112 The second of these must by insinuation be entred into. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. vi §9 If we should enter into their Theology, and the History of that. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 95 ¶3. I..should be obliged to you if you would enter into the Matter more deeply. 1839 G. Bird Nat. Philos. Introd. 34 To enter into these speculations would however be useless and unprofitable. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 45 Into its physiology we do not propose to enter. |
† e. To take part in, intermeddle with. Obs.
| 1710 Steele Tatler No. 176 ¶2 Our Affections must never enter into our Business. a 1714 Burnet Own Time II. 207 Other princes would not..enter into the laws and establishment settled among us. |
f. To take an interest in; to take an intelligent interest in, understand, sympathize with.
| 1797 Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 43 It is by comparison only that we can enter into the philosophy of language. 1833 Baroness Bunsen in Hare Life I. ix. 404 Entering into everything and enjoying everything like a child. 1851 Helps Friends in C. II. 11, I should enter into his feelings rather than into those of the ordinary spectator. 1885 Sir J. Hannen in Law Rep. Prob. Div. X. 89 She entered into all the arrangements..in a methodical and rational manner. |
g. To form part of; to be a constituent element in. So also with adv., to enter in.
| 1715 Desaguliers Fires Impr. 152 Lapis Calaminaris, which enters into the Composition of the Brass. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §193 The quantity and species of sabulous matter that entered into the texture of the limestone. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) I. 567 These universal correspondencies..enter into all the plans of Nature. 1811 Pinkerton Petral. I. 231 Where no secondary stone enters in its composition, I do not see why, etc. 1879 Huxley Hume 74 Those compound states of consciousness, which so largely enter into our ordinary trains of thought. 1888 Spectator 30 June 884/1 Other considerations, some of them trifling enough, enter in. |
h. In Bible phrase, to enter into (another's) labours (lit. from the Gr. and the Vulg.): to reap the benefits of what has been done by another.
| 1382 Wyclif John iv. 38 Othere men traueliden, and ȝe entriden in to her trauelis. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 11 They laboured..the vynyarde..& we haue entred into theyr labours, takynge the fruyte of the same. |
9. to enter on, upon: a. Law. (Cf. 2.) To make an entry into (land) as an assertion of ownership; to assume possession of (property); † to dispossess (a holder of property).
| 1467 Bury Wills (1850) 47, I will that myn feffeis and myn executo{supr}s entre vppon hym and put hym owth. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 23/2 It shall not be lawful for any Woman to enter upon the goods of the dead. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 263 ¶6, I shall immediately enter upon your Estate for the Arrear due to me. 1809 Bawdwen Domesday Bk. 599 Ausfrid, the Priest, entered forcibly upon this land of Ralph's. 1818 Cruise Digest III. 319 He will not distrain or enter on the premises conveyed for the recovery of his rent charge. |
b. To make an entrance on; to take the first steps upon (a path, a tract travelled over).
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 59 And forþward faste on hure way þey wente, and entrede on þe brigge. 1659 Hammond On Ps. ci. 8 The season wherein David, as a Judge, entring on the Tribunal, etc. 1826 Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) II. 96 He is saved from entering on a scene of infinite corruptions. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. §12. 88 My guide and myself entered upon this portion of the glacier. |
c. fig. To take the first steps in; to do the first part of; to begin, take in hand, engage in (a process, enterprise). Cf. Fr. † entrer sur (Littré). Also, to begin (a period of time).
| 1618 Bolton Florus i. i. 3 Which of them should first enter upon the government and Rule. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. Ded., I after was entred on a Resolution to dedicate it to his Memory. 1672–5 T. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702) 89 By his offering and entring on a treaty. 1704 Addison Italy Pref., For before I enter'd on my Voyage I took care, etc. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. xvi. 274, I was now entered on the seven-and-twentieth year of my captivity. 1844 Stanley Arnold II. x. 288 He entered on his Professorial duties. 1883 Gilmour Mongols xvii. 206 To enter upon a contest with evil. |
† d. To begin an attack upon. Obs.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xliii (heading), How Nysus and Eryalus made theym redy to entre vpon the hoost of Turnus. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 540 The Beare dareth not to enter upon the wilde Boar, except behinde him. |
e. To begin to deal with (a subject).
| 1632 Star Chamb. Cases (1886) 124 Then the Kinges Councell entred upon their proofes. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. vi. (1739) 14 Thus entred the Prelates upon affairs of Kings and Kingdoms. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 339 ¶5 The Day is not too far spent for him to enter upon such a Subject. 1727 Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 295 This day the Committee..entered on the Church's grievances. 1796 Jane Austen Pride & Prej. v. 191 Her fear, if she once entered on the subject. |
** trans. (formerly sometimes conjugated with be.)
10. To go or come into (a closed space, e.g. a house); to go within the bounds of (a country, etc.); to go within (a gate); to step upon (a path, a bridge); to go on board (a ship). Cf. 1 a.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 402 Yhe sal noght entre, be na way Hevenryke that sal last ay. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13880 No buerne was so bold þe brigge for to entre. c 1400 Mandeville xiii (1839) 144 He most entre the See, at Gene. 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. 302 He hathe entred the heuen, to appere before the vysage of his fader for vs. 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 171 Who being discomfited with the storms and tempestes thereof, never enter shippe. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 165 The which with great courage entered Wales. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. i. 7 One..that when he enters the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his Sword vpon the Table. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 178 ¶2 He..returns as if he were entring a Gaol. 1737 Whiston Josephus' Hist. iv. iv. §7 They soon came to know who they were..that were entered the city. 1756–7 tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) III. 165 The gate which thou enterest. 1801 Southey Thalaba iii. i, Some traveller, who shall enter Our tent, may read it. 1840 Dickens Barn. Rudge i, Who was the young lady that I saw entering a carriage? 1876 Green Short Hist. i. 18 The band of monks entered Canterbury bearing before them a silver cross. |
| fig. c 1380 Wyclif Last Age Church (1840) p. xxv, Þis was þe firste tribulacioun þat ontrede þe Chirche of God. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 71 Entring the glorious waies of Truth. 1843 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. I. 201 It never enters his head to lie under the walnut-tree here. 1862 Trollope Orley F. xv. 121 The idea that Lady Mason was guilty had never entered her head. |
† b. To take possession of (the throne, the crown). Cf. 9 a. Obs.
| 1563 Foxe Life in Latimer's Serm. & Rem. (1845) Introd. 20 Till the time that blessed King Edward entered his crown. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. ii. xxii. (1739) 102 Henry the Fourth entred the Throne by his Sword. |
c. To take up one's abode in. Chiefly with mixed notion of 12, as to enter a monastery, enter the cloister (= to become a monk or nun), to enter a college, etc.
| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. i. ii. 182 This day my sister should the Cloyster enter. |
d. To force an entrance into; to break into (a house, etc.); † to board (a ship).
| 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 49/1 His lodging..was entred with fire. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xii. 57 There is more men lost in entering, if the chase stand to her defence. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World vi. (1757) 202 And seeing their forecastle full of men,..I concluded they had come to a resolution of entering us. 1817 W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 777 Judgment was arrested in trespass for breaking and entering a free fishery. |
11. To make a way into or pass between the parts of anything; to pierce; to penetrate. Cf. 3.
| 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. iv. 182 This respite..enter'd me; Yea, with a spitting power. |
† b. Of the agent: To pierce, make a hole into. Also fig. to ‘get an idea into’ (a person). Obs.
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 154 Entring the Post first with an Augure. a 1718 Penn Tracts Wks. 1726 I. 526, I almost despair of entering some of our Adversaries. |
† c. Of male animals: To copulate with. Obs.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 18 A Mare which a Horse hath formerly entred. Ibid., A female asse which hath been entered by a male asse. |
12. To become a member of (a society or organized body). So to enter the army, enter the church, enter a university, etc. Cf. 4.
| a 1891 Mod. He entered the army at nineteen. A lad of seventeen is too young to enter a university. |
† 13. To take the first steps in (an action or work); to begin. Often with obj. inf. Obs. Cf. 6.
| c 1515 Cocke Lorell's B. (1843) 12 Some to howse the tope sayle dyde entre. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iv. 17 To begynne and enter his prechyng. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 77/1 Constantinus..entred his journie, comming towards Italie. 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 49 The souldiers..having no stomache to enter conflict and skyrmishe, betooke them to flight. 1594 Nashe Terrors Night G b, Which before I enter to describe, thus much I will informe ye. 1642 Rogers Naaman 256 A worke well entred, is truly said to be halfe done. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 29 Made, or, at least, entred at the Forge..yet sometimes Smiths do it on cold Iron. |
b. To begin (a period of time).
| a 1617 Bayne On Eph. (1658) 75 Kings..in entring their reigns. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. i. i. 13 note, Her majesty had just entered the seventy-seventh year of her age. |
† 14. To come, or be brought, into a certain state; to take upon oneself (a condition, office, or relation of any kind); to embrace (a profession). Obs. exc. in phrase to enter religion (cf. 8 b).
| 1563 Homilies ii. Resurr. Christ (1859) 430 Then are they in very evill case..that be entred their sleepe in Christ. 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 282 Over hastie bee they to enter wedlocke. Ibid. 342 If you doe enter acquaintance and familiaritie with him. 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. (1861) 91 Would these princes..enter arms as did the Greeks against Troy. 1596 Edw. III, i. ii, We with England will not enter parley. 1611 Speed Theat. Gt. Brit. xvii. (1614) 33/2 Sigebert..entered the profession of a monke. Ibid. xxviii. 55/1 P. O. Scapula entred his Lieutenantship in Britaine. 1651 W. G. tr. Cowel's Inst. 23 Make Oath not to enter marriage again without the Kings consent. 1888 Bernard World to Cloister 9 If he enter religion. |
† 15. to enter bond: = ‘to enter into a bond’ (see 8 c). Obs.
| 1650 Bury Wills (1850) 224 Soe that within a moneth after my death she enter bond to my trustees of my estate. Ibid., If she shall refuse to enter such bond. |
16. To turn to a particular place in (a mathematical table). Still in nautical use. Cf. 8 a.
| 1593 T. Fale Dialling 11/2 With this quocient Sine I enter the Table. 1644 Nye Gunnery (1670) 60, I enter the Table under the Title inches. 1840 Raper Navigation 80 Enter Table 5 with the first number of points at the top, and the second number of points at the side. |
II. To cause to enter.
17. trans. To put or bring (a person) into something: esp. to take or put (men) on board a vessel. arch.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxx. 143 They decked thre shyppes, and entred into theym a certayne. 1588 R. Parke tr. Mendoza's Hist. China 387 Whereby to enter the lawe of the Gospel into the mightie kingdome of China. 1607 Dekker Northw. Hoe iii. i. Wks. 1873 III. 36 But come enter him [i.e. ‘show in’ a visitor]. 1611 Chapman Iliad iii. Comm. (1857) 81 And thus to the last twelve books..with those free feet that entered me, I haste. 1674 Lond. Gaz. No. 870/4 Laying him on board on the Bow..[he] entered his Men, and made him surrender. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton xi. (1840) 193 The boat..was to enter her men in the waste. 1845 Hamilton Pop. Educ. vii. (ed. 2) 146 Each citizen has a legal right to enter his children [in the primary schools]. 1847–8 H. Miller First Impr. viii. (1857) 124 He would, he said, fairly enter me on the grounds, and introduce me. |
† b. fig. To admit into a society, etc.; to introduce into a condition or state. Const. into, rarely in. Obs.
| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iii. i. (1611) 83 Entered wee are not into the visible Church, before our admittance by the doore of baptisme. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. xiv. 113 This sword but shewne to Cæsar with this tydings, Shall enter me with him. a 1617 Bayne On Eph. (1658) 8 This blessing entreth them into assured possession. 1658 Whole Duty Man i. §31 (1684) 23 Baptism..enters us into covenant with God. 1719 De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. i. 4 He would..endeavour to enter me fairly into the station of life which, etc. 1723 Bp. O. Blackall Wks. I. 184 By which [Baptism] we are entred and initiated into the Christian Church. |
† c. with complement. Obs.
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. ii. 103 His Pupill age Man-entred thus, he waxed like a Sea. 1631 Massinger Believe as You List i. i, With this charitie I enter thee a begger. |
† 18. To introduce (to the knowledge of anything) by instruction; to give (a person) initiatory information or instruction in; to instruct initially; to initiate. Obs. or arch.
| 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592) C iij, The precepts of wise men, which she had been entred in. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Pref. 13 b, Sounde meate for such as are wel entred. 1607 Shakes. Cor. i. ii. 2 They of Rome are entred in our Counsailes. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. ii. 41 So that he be already entred upon the Theorie of Musick. a 1714 T. Ellwood Autobiog. 202 He asked me..If I would enter his Children in the Rudiments of the Latin Tongue. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §4 Cleophon..entered him [his son] betimes in the principles of his sect. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. i. iv. 229 You are entered in all the secrets of his workshop. |
b. To exercise initially; to train; to fly (a hawk) for the first time; to break in (a horse). Also, to enter a dog at or to: to put him (while yet untrained) on the scent of.
| 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. (1844) 508 A kest of hakys, when he went to enter them to the rever. c 1575 Perfect Bk. Sparhawkes (ed. Hasting 1886) 17 Enter her in this order folowinge. 1598 Florio, Accarnare, to flesh, to enter a dog. 1668 Pepys Diary, 21 Dec., Not daring yet to use the others [horses] too much, but only to enter them. a 1670 Hacket Abp. Williams ii. 143 (D.) Like hounds ready to be entred. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Entering of Hounds, The Hare is esteemed the best Game to enter your Hounds at. 1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports 124 The young hounds should be entered to fox. 1881 Michell Hawking in Macm. Mag. XLV. 39 It remains only to break him to the lure, and to ‘enter’ him, each of which processes is soon completed. |
19. To put (something) into (another thing); to put in, insert, introduce. Now chiefly techn. [So Fr. entrer (Littré), though the use is not recognized by the Academy.]
| 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 623 This lettir sall I entyr heyr. 1647 H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. iii. i, He much perplexed is..Where to make choice to enter his rugg'd saw. 1691 Ray N.C. Words 31 Gavelock..an Iron Bar to enter stakes into the ground. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 122 Enter the edge of the Draw-knife into the Work. 1787 Best Angling (ed. 2) 29 You must enter the hook at the tail of the worm. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) x. xcv, Entering your watch at the wrong opening, when it instantly dives to your knee. 1830 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 244 It is therefore politic to enter the wedge by this end. 1859 F. Griffiths Artil. Man. (1862) 208, 5..enters shot or shell, and rams home. c 1860 H. Stuart Seamen's Catech. 11 The ball will be entered the largest end downward. 1865 Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. i. (1866) 4 A special care is needed lest we enter something into the meaning from ourselves. |
† b. to enter foot: to begin. Also refl. in same sense. Obs.
| 1618 Chapman Hesiod i. 141 When first thou enter'st foot to plow thy land. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews i. x, He..entered himself into an ejaculation on the numberless calamities which attended beauty. |
c. In backgammon. To place a man again on the board after it has been taken up, and unable to come in again because the point indicated by the throw is already full.
| 1870 Hardy & Ware Mod. Hoyle, Backgammon 143. |
20. To put (a name) into a list in writing, (a fact or particular) into a description or record; to write down (on paper, a tablet, etc.). Const. in, into, on, and simply. to enter (money, goods, etc.) to, against: to put down to a person's account.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 253, I was markid, withoute mercy and myn name entrid In þe legende of lif longe er I were. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §44 Consider thy rote furst..& entere hit in-to thy slate for the laste merydye of December. c 1400 Mandeville xxii. (1839) 238 Thei [alle the Mynstrelle] ben..entred in his Bokes, as for his owne men. 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. 20 To entre their copyes truely in the lordes courte roll. 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 196 Such discourses, as you have already with painefull pen entered into paper. 1668 Hale in Rolle's Abridgm. Pref. 8 Let him enter the Abstract..into his Common-place Book. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. C viij, The Publisher..has duly entred this Book in the Register of Stationers-hall, London. 1783 Burke Report Affairs India Wks. XI. 136 He did not..think it proper to enter his answer on the records. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xix. 154 If you received the note from us..it must be entered in our books. 1812 Examiner 28 Sept. 624/1 They..determined to enter goods to people who never had any dealings. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth ix, And not entered against him at the long and dire day of accounting. 1844 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. (1858) I. App. 361 Parish Churches are entered in the ancient record of Domesday. |
b. To hand in at the Custom House a statement of the amount and value of (goods exported or imported). Also, to register (a vessel) as arriving in or leaving a port.
| 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. A ij b, Such as..like Merchants with their goods, enter them, before they ship them. 1840 R. Dana Bef. Mast xiii. 28 The cargo having been entered in due form, we began trading. 1845 M{supc}Culloch Taxation ii. x. (1852) 342 The teas entered for consumption. Mod. Newspaper (Heading of paragraphs), Vessels entered inwards. Vessels entered outwards. |
c. To insert by name on the list of competitors (in a race, athletic contest, etc.). Also intr. for refl.
| 1684 Lond. Gaz. No. 1938/4 The first Horses to be shown and entred there a week before for this year. 1702 Ibid. No. 3832/4 The Horses to be enter'd..14 days before. a 1891 Mod. Please enter me for the Sack Race and Hurdles. Have you entered for the Quarter-mile? |
d. To get (land) recorded in a land-office in one's name as the intending occupier. U.S.
| 1799 Columbian Centinel (Boston, Mass.) 1 July 3/1 Real Estates, entered at the Register of Deed's Office. 1835 in H. Howe Hist. Coll. Ohio (1847) 387 Much land was entered in the county, and many settlements made. 1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase xiv. 100 Out there, a settlement usually takes its name from the person that first ‘enters the land’, i.e. buys a tract at the land office. 1871 Schele de Vere Americanisms (1872) 173 All other lands can be obtained by entering them. 1884 H. Butterworth Zigzag Journ. Western States 217 ‘What does it usually cost to make a farm on government land?’..‘It costs fourteen dollars to enter one hundred and sixty acres of land.’ |
21. to enter up: a. To enter in regular form (a series of items); to complete the series of entries in (a book) to a certain date.
| Mod. (Comm.) Have you entered up your payments? The cash-book had not been properly entered up. |
b. Law. To cause (a verdict, judgement, etc.) to be written down in the records of a court.
| a 1734 North Exam. i. ii. §48 (1740) 54 Corruptions by the Way, use not to be entered up upon Record. 1875 Poste Gaius iii. (ed. 2) 414 A judge's order authorizing the plaintiff to enter up judgment and issue execution. |
22. a. Law. to enter an action, caveat, writ, etc.; to bring it before the court in due form, usually in writing. b. to enter a protest: primarily of the minority in a deliberative body, esp. the House of Lords, to record a protest on the journals or minutes; hence gen. to protest. So also, to enter a caution, protestation, etc.
| a. 1579 Fulke Heskins' Parl. 129 Chrysostome may enter action against him of slaunder and defamation. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. i. 2 Mr. Fang, haue you entred the Action? 1884 Law Rep. Prob. Div. IX. 23 The defendant..entered a caveat. |
| b. 1679 Dryden Tr. & Cress. Ep. Ded., Whatever Protestation you might enter to the contrary. 1699 Bentley Phal. 139, I enter'd no caution about it to the Reader. 1728 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 86 A motion..made for entring a protest against the above order. 1821 Q. Caroline Remonstr. Geo. IV, 17 July, The Queen feels it to be her bounden duty to enter her most deliberate and solemn protest against the said determination. 1884 Pennington Wiclif ix. 290 He entered his decided protest against the system of the Schoolmen. |
c. To put down or cause to be put down upon the record.
| 1692, 1809 [see docket v. 2]. 1860 Act 23 & 24 Vict. c. 38. §3 No Judgment which has not already been or shall not hereafter be entered or docketed under the several Acts..shall have any Preference against Heirs. 1896 A. Pulling Law Rep., Five Years' Digest 679/1 The defendant failed to appear, and judgment was entered. 1930 Daily Express 6 Nov. 7/2 No judgment was entered. |
23. From sense 20, with mixed notion of 17 b: a. To admit as a pupil, or member of a society; to engage (a servant, workman, etc.). b. To procure admission for (a person) as such. c. refl. and intr. for refl. Const. among, in, into, of.
| a. 1651 Baxter Inf. Bapt. 23 They that are entered under him as their Master. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. ii. §5 And if the King were chosen out of the Souldiers, he was presently entred among the Priests. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. III. 358 In the year 1655 making a return to the University, he was entred into Ch. Ch. 1748 Anson Voy. iii. viii. 370 He had entered twenty-three men during his stay at Macao. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §129, I immediately entered another able seaman, which..made the number six. Ibid. §130, I likewise entered three masons and nine tinners..to take the first turn or week. |
| b. 1670 Walton Lives iv. 266 Having entred Edward into Queens Colledge. 1675 Art Contentm. ix. §11. 227 He was never enter'd in those academies of luxury. 1712 Budgell Spect. No. 307 ¶12 He was entered in a College of Jesuits. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 224 Some..officers..entered me into the army. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1730 Taylor was entered of that college. |
| c. 1689–92 Locke Toleration Wks. 1727 II. iii. 324 They are free from it who enter themselves of the Company. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3839/4 All others that enter to pay Five Guineas. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 77 The people who were willing to take service with us, and enter themselves on board. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. I. 6 He therefore entered himself as a clerk to a solicitor. |
▪ III. † ˈenter, prep. Obs. rare—1.
[ad. Fr. entre:—L. inter.]
Between.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 455 Northwarde of fervent grounde, southwarde of colde, And enter both of hilly lande thai wolde. |
▪ IV. enter
obs. var. entire, and inter, to bury.