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Webster 1913 Edition

Entertain

Enˊter-tain′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Entertained
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Entertaining
.]
[F.
entretenir
;
entre
between (L.
inter
) +
tenir
to hold, L.
tenere
. See
Tenable
.]
1.
To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one’s service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
You, sir, I
entertain
for one of my hundred.
Shakespeare
2.
To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.
Be not forgetful to
entertain
strangers; for thereby some have
entertained
unawares.
Heb. xiii. 2.
3.
To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert;
as, to
entertain
friends with conversation, etc.
The weary time she can not
entertain
.
Shakespeare
4.
To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of;
as, to
entertain
a proposal
.
I am not here going to
entertain
so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
De Quincey.
A rumor gained ground, – and, however absurd, was
entertained
by some very sensible people.
Hawthorne.
5.
To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
[Obs.]
Shak.
6.
To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish;
as, to
entertain
sentiments
.
7.
To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
[Obs.]
Syn. – To amuse; divert; maintain. See
Amuse
.

Enˊter-tain′

,
Verb.
I.
To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests;
as, he
entertains
generously
.

Enˊter-tain′

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
entretien
, fr.
entretenir
.]
Entertainment.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Entertain

ENTERTA'IN

,
Verb.
T.
[L. tenco.]
1.
To receive into the house and treat with hospitality, either at the table only, or with lodging also.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Heb.13.
2.
To treat with conversation; to amuse or instruct by discourse; properly, to engage the attention and retain the company of one, by agreeable conversation, discourse or argument. The advocate entertained his audience an hour, with sound argument and brilliant displays of eloquence.
3.
To keep in one's service; to maintain. He entertained ten domestics.
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
[This original and French sense is obsolete or little used.]
4.
To keep, hold or maintain in the mind with favor; to reserve in the mind; to harbor; to cherish. Let us entertain the most exalted views of the Divine character. It is our duty to entertain charitable sentiments towards our fellow men.
5.
To maintain; to support; as, to entertain a hospital.
6.
To please; to amuse; to divert. David entertained himself with the meditation of God's law. Idle men entertain themselves with trifles.
7.
To treat; to supply with provisions and liquors, or with provisions and lodging, for reward. The innkeeper entertains a great deal of company.

ENTERTA'IN

,
Noun.
Entertainment. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

entertain

entertain

English

Verb

entertain ‎(third-person singular simple present entertains, present participle entertaining, simple past and past participle entertained)

  1. (transitive) To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
    to entertain friends with lively conversation
    The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
  2. (transitive and intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
    They enjoy entertaining a lot.
    • Bible, Heb. xiii. 2
      Be not forgetful to entertain strangers […]
  3. (transitive) To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
    The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
    to entertain a proposal
    • De Quincey
      I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
    • Hawthorne
      A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
  4. (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
    • Shakespeare
      You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
  5. (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  6. (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      to baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

entertain ‎(uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) Entertainment; pleasure.
  2. (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
    • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.8:
      But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […].

External links

  • entertain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • entertain in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • entertain at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

Etymology

From Old French entretenir, from entre ‎(“among”) + tenir ‎(“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō ‎(“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien.

Pronunciation

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