entrepreneur
UK[ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː(r)]US[ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr]
n
a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
Morpheme Breakdown
entre
pre
neur
entre
between, among
pre
before, in front of
neur
one who does or is concerned with
Etymology
The word 'entrepreneur' entered English from French in the 19th century. Its French form derives from the verb 'entreprendre', meaning "to undertake", which itself is a compound of 'entre-' (from Latin 'inter', meaning "between") and 'prendre' (from Latin 'prehendere', meaning "to seize, to grasp"). The '-neur' suffix is the agentive form, akin to the English '-er'. Thus, the literal sense is "one who undertakes" or "one who seizes an opportunity between parties". This evolved from a general term for an undertaker of projects to its modern, specialized meaning of someone who organizes and assumes the risk for a business venture.
Analysis
Structure: entre + pre + neur
- entre: from French, meaning "between, among".
- pre: from French, meaning "before, in front of".
- neur: from French, meaning "one who does or is concerned with".
Examples
She is a successful entrepreneur who started her own tech company.
The government launched a scheme to support young entrepreneurs.
His innovative mindset and willingness to take risks are the hallmarks of a true entrepreneur.