entertain

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English entertenen to hold mutually < Middle French entretenir ≪ Vulgar Latin *intertenēre, equivalent to Latin inter- inter- + tenēre to hold

Related forms

o·ver·en·ter·tained, adjective

pre·en·ter·tain, verb (used with object)

un·en·ter·tained, adjective

well-en·ter·tained, adjective

Synonyms
1. beguile, regale. See amuse.

Antonyms
1. bore. 3. reject.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To entertain

Collins

World English Dictionary

entertain (ˌɛntəˈteɪn)

—vb
1.	to provide amusement for (a person or audience)
2.	to show hospitality to (guests)
3.	(tr) to hold in the mind: to entertain an idea

[C15: from Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

entertain

late 15c., "to keep up, maintain," from M.Fr. entretenir, from O.Fr. entretenir "hold together, support," from entre- "among" (from L. inter) + tenir "to hold" (from L. tenere; see tenet). Sense of "have a guest" is late 15c.; that of "amuse" is 1620s.

Easton

Bible Dictionary

Entertain definition

Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7). The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34). The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28). In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Example sentences

But this destination offers more than concerts to entertain its weekend

visitors.

Most writers try to amuse or entertain their correspondents.

He is often called on to hype up audiences and entertain the occasional bush

spirit, he says.

Although grilling is good for dinner for two, this is also a great time of year

to entertain with little effort.

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busk chintzy dine divert educate feast

Matching Quote

"Afterwards, when the bombshell of early motherhood first hit, I remember wondering how any woman could possibly entertain erotic thoughts while sleepwaking through the chaos of feeds, nappies stress and fatigue. I assume my husband and I must have had sex at least a few times in that two year period ... but I must say I can't remember it happening. Perhaps I dozed through it, who knows."

-Bettina Arndt