enter

The action of entering; an instance of entering.

Noun

The action of entering; an instance of entering.
Alternative spelling of Enter (“the computer key”).
Alternative spelling of Enter (“a stroke of the computer key”).

Origin

From Middle English entren, from Old French entrer, from Latin intrō (“enter”, verb), from intrā (“inside”). Has been spelled as "enter" for several centuries even in the United Kingdom, although British English and the English of many Commonwealth Countries (e.g. Australia, Canada) retain the "re" ending for many words such as centre, fibre, spectre, theatre, calibre, sombre, lustre, and litre.

Forms

enters entre

Verb

To go or come into an enclosed or partially enclosed space.
- You should knock before you enter, unless you want to see me naked.
- […]you can fynde in youre heartes to assaulte her with rebellion, or in any wise [ways] suffer any one eyvil motion to enter into your thoughtes against her? - 1555, John Proctor, The historie of Wyates rebellion, with...
- Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 3:5:
To cause to go (into), or to be received (into); to put in; to insert; to cause to be admitted.
- to enter a knife into a piece of wood
- to enter a boy at college, a horse for a race, etc.
To go or come into (a state or profession).
- My twelve-year-old son will be entering his teens next year.
- She had planned to enter the legal profession.
- Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. … But the scandals kept coming, and so we entered stage three – what therapists call "bargaining". - 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of...
To type (something) into a computer; to input.
- Enter your user name and password.
To record (something) in an account, ledger, etc.
- Each amount entered in the debit column of the journal is posted by entering it on the credit side/column of an account in the ledger. - 2003, A. Mukherjee, M. Hanif, Financial Accounting, →ISBN, page 27:
To come on to the stage during a performance.
Coordinate Terms: exit
1. (theater) Used as a stage direction, usually preceding the name of the character who appears.
2. (figurative) Used in the manner of a stage direction: to enter the picture, to become relevant.
  - I’m usually a shoulder bag kind of girl, just because it fits my vibe more. But when I’m on my feet for hours—running through crowded airports or touring a new city—the last thing I want to think about is my stuff....
  Coordinate Terms: exit
To become a party to an agreement, treaty, etc.
- I am pleased to notify the Congress of my intent to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Government of Singapore. - 2003 February 4, The President of the United States, “NOTIFICATION TO ENTER INTO A FREE...
To become effective; to come into effect.
- This Act shall enter into force on 01 March 1998. - 2005, United Nations, Dispositions Législatives Et Réglementaires Nationales Relatives À la Prévention Et À L'élimination Du Terrorisme International, →ISBN, page 215:
To go into or upon, as lands, and take actual possession of them.
To place in regular form before the court, usually in writing; to put upon record in proper from and order
- to enter a writ, appearance, rule, or judgment
To make report of (a vessel or its cargo) at the custom house; to submit a statement of (imported goods), with the original invoices, to the proper customs officer for estimating the duties. See entry.
To file, or register with the land office, the required particulars concerning (a quantity of public land) in order to entitle a person to a right of preemption.
- Under existing laws governing the qualifications of an alien to enter 160 acres or more of the public domain he is only required to file his declaration of intent to become a citizen. - 1887, United States General Land...

enter

Noun

Origin

Forms

Verb

Forms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived