entertain
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/
ipa: /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/
ipa: [ˌɛ̃ɾ̃ɚˈtʰeɪn]
rhymes: -eɪn
Forms: form: entertains
form: entertaining
form: entertained
form: entertained
form: entertaine
Etymology: From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien.
Senses: examples: text: to entertain friends with lively conversation
text: The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
glosses: to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably
examples: text: They enjoy entertaining a lot.
text: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers[…]
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 13:2:
glosses: to have someone over at one's home for a party or visit
examples: text: The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
text: to entertain a proposal
text: I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
ref: 1851, Thomas De Quincey, Literary Reminiscences:
text: A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
ref: 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
glosses: to receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind
examples: text: Intreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech,
And seem to them as if thy sins were great,
Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd.
ref: c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
text: You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
ref: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act XXVI, scene iii], page vi:
glosses: to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep
examples: text: O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France
ref: 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
text: Penalty for entertaining a Deserter
ref: 1860, British Parliament, Naval Discipline Act, page 1069:
glosses: to meet or encounter, as an enemy
examples: text: to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus
ref: 1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC:
glosses: to lead on; to bring along; to introduce
glosses: to help; to assist; to answer a phone call
raw_tags: in business
Derived terms: entertainability
entertainable
entertainer
entertaining
entertainment