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One who takes the leading part in a drama; hence, one who takes lead in some great scene, enterprise, conflict, or the like. Shakespeare, the protagonist on the great of modern poetry. De Quincey.

on; to accomplish; as, he put through a measure of legislation; he put through a railroad enterprise. [U.S.] -- To put to. (a) To add; to unite; as, to put one sum to another. (b) To refer to; to expose; as, to put the safety of the state to hazard. "That dares not put it to the touch." Montrose.

Opprobriously, a leader of a body of men engaged in the violation of law or in an illegal enterprise, as rioters, mutineers, or the like. The ringleaders were apprehended, tried, fined, and imprisoned. Macaulay.

as by the use of mercury. over.; as, salivate over the prospects of high profits from an enterprise.

ds or supports what another attempts, affirms, moves, or proposes; as, the seconder of an enterprise or of a motion.

king stone, a rich piece of ore displayed in order to tempt persons to embark in a mining enterprise.

of being dissolved or disintegrated; resolution; disintegration. It is unquestionably an enterprise of more promise to assail the nations in their hour of faintness and solution, than at a time when magnificent and seductive systems of worship were at their height of energy and splendor. I. Taylor.

The leader; the inspirer; the moving spirit; the heart; as, the soul of an enterprise; an able gemeral is the soul of his army. He is the very soul of bounty! Shak.

To disperse. [Obs.] The Landgrave hath sparkled his army without any further enterprise. State Papers.

Of or pertaining to speculation in land, goods, shares, etc.; as, a speculative dealer or enterprise. The speculative merchant exercises no one regular, established, or well-known branch of business. A. Smith. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ly, adv. -- Spec"u*la*tive*ness, n.

as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.

o purchase the assistance of by the payment of a subsidy; to aid or promote, as a private enterprise, with public money; as, to subsidize a steamship line. He employed the remittances from Spain to subsidize a large body of German mercenaries. Prescott.

or the like, to a private person or company to assist the establishment or support of an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public; a subvention; as, a subsidy to the owners of a line of ocean steamships.

fortunate; happy; as, a successful use of medicine; a successful experiment; a successful enterprise. Welcome, nephews, from successful wars. Shak.

An agent of a corporation, or of any body of men engaged in a business enterprise; an advocate or patron; an assignee.

Titanic. The Titan physical difficulties of his enterprise. I. Taylor.

bs.] I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise. Shak.

ken; any business, work, or project which a person engages in, or attempts to perform; an enterprise.

nure upon land; the utility of the sciences; the utility of medicines. The utility of the enterprises was, however, so great and obvious that all opposition proved useless. Macaulay.

leasing to the eye or the imagination. A government intent on showy absurdities and viewy enterprises rather than solid work. London Spectator.