document entity

基本解释

Consider the document entity as the first item in the XML document that an XML processor encounters.
将文档实体看作是 XML 处理器遇到的 XML 文档的第一项。
The INSTANCES table in the EIDB records information about instances, and the DE_INST table maintains the links from each document entity to the corresponding instance.
EIDB 中的 INSTANCES 表记录关于实例的信息，DE_INST 表维护从每个文档实体到对应的实例的链接。
The standalone attribute signals to XML processors and validators whether the XML document requires any markup of its content to be applied that occurs outside of the document entity.
独立属性向 XML 处理器和验证器发出信号，指示 XML 文档是否需要将该文档实体之外的任何标记应用于其内容。

There is somebody, perhaps a corporate entity, who is going to take care of the stuff in accordance with the terms of the document.
FORBES: Don't Freak Out If You Hear Your Trust Is Defective