entertain

- 4 dictionary results

en⋅ter⋅tain

[en-ter-teyn]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably; divert; amuse.

2.	to have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc., for; show hospitality to.

3.	to admit into the mind; consider: He never entertained such ideas.

4.	to hold in the mind; harbor; cherish: They secretly entertained thoughts of revenge.

5.	Archaic. to maintain or keep up.

6.	Obsolete. to give admittance or reception to; receive.

–verb (used without object)

7.	to exercise hospitality; entertain company; provide entertainment for guests: They loved to talk, dance, and entertain.

Origin:
1425–75; late ME entertenen to hold mutually < MF entretenir ≪ VL *intertenēre, equiv. to L inter- inter- + tenēre to hold

Synonyms:
1. beguile, regale. See amuse.

Antonyms:
1. bore. 3. reject.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To entertain

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en·ter·tain (ěn'tər-tān')

v. en·ter·tained, en·ter·tain·ing, en·ter·tains

v. tr.

To hold the attention of with something amusing or diverting. See Synonyms at amuse.
To extend hospitality toward: entertain friends at dinner.
1. To consider; contemplate: entertain an idea.
2. To hold in mind; harbor: entertained few illusions.
Archaic To continue with; maintain.
Obsolete To employ; hire.
To give admittance to; receive.

v. intr.

To show hospitality to guests.
To provide entertainment.

[Middle English entertinen, to maintain, from Old French entretenir, from Medieval Latin intertenēre : Latin inter, among; see inter- + Latin tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
en'ter·tain'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

entertain

1475, "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 1490; that of "amuse" is 1626. Entertainer "public performer" is from c.1535.

Bible Dictionary

Entertain

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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