en·ter·tain·ing

[en-ter-tey-ning]

Origin:
1615–25; entertain + -ing2

en·ter·tain·ing·ly, adverb
non·en·ter·tain·ing, adjective
qua·si-en·ter·tain·ing, adjective
self-en·ter·tain·ing, adjective
un·en·ter·tain·ing, adjective
un·en·ter·tain·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged

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 Middle English entertenen to hold mutually < Middle French entretenirVulgar Latin *intertenēre, equivalent to Latin inter- inter- + tenēre to hold

o·ver·en·ter·tained, adjective
pre·en·ter·tain, verb (used with object)
un·en·ter·tained, adjective
well-en·ter·tained, adjective


1. beguile, regale. See amuse.


1. bore. 3. reject.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To entertaining
00:10
Entertaining is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
entertain (ˌɛntəˈteɪn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
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]

entertaining (ˌɛntəˈteɪnɪŋ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
serving to entertain or give pleasure; diverting; amusing
 
enter'tainingly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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
The spicy, garlicky cream sauce in this recipe makes this chicken special
  enough for summer entertaining.
Behind each of the modules is a scientific concept presented in a humorous and
  entertaining yet scientifically accurate manner.
They may be filled with entertaining errors on both sides.
The thing has all the ingredients of a reasonably entertaining caper film.
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