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Glite Dictionary
🤝 A solemn promise 🗡️ An adventurous quest
emprise

emprise

9.9
A serious promise to do something, often in old stories
  • noun
  • /ɛmˈpraɪz/
  • Archaic
: promesa
  • The knight gave his emprise to protect her honor until the quest was done.

Examples

  • He was bound by his emprise to defend the weak and uphold justice.

  • In ancient tales, heroes often swore an emprise before embarking on dangerous journeys.

  • He made a solemn emprise to protect his family.

  • The knight's emprise was to seek glory and honor.

  • In ancient tales, heroes often swore an emprise before embarking on dangerous journeys.

  • The knight gave his emprise to protect her honor until the quest was done.

  • He was bound by his emprise to defend the weak and uphold justice.

Synonyms

oath
vsemprise
  • Formal
408 3.6

A formal promise made in a serious or official situation

is broader and not only reserved for formal or official contexts
pledge
vsemprise
206 3.7

A serious promise to do or stop doing something

is used chiefly in archaic or literary language rather than everyday speech
word of honor
vsemprise
  • Formal
10 4.0

A serious promise to tell the truth or keep a secret

is a general solemn undertaking often with archaic or literary tone

Surface Forms

emprise singular
emprises plural

Etymology

Emprise comes from Old French parts em- and prise, which mean 'to take on' or 'to undertake', and it is like the word enterprise. So in old stories an emprise was often a knight's serious promise to do a brave task, which is why it can mean a solemn pledge or undertaking.