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Webster 1913 Edition

Amuse

A-muse′

(ȧ-mūz′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Amused
(ȧ-mūzd′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Amusing
.]
[F.
amuser
to make stay, to detain, to amuse,
à
(L.
ad
) + OF.
muser
. See
Muse
,
Verb.
]
1.
To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
[Obs.]
Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were
amused
in receiving their gold.
Holland.
Being
amused
with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house.
Fuller.
2.
To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert.
A group of children
amusing
themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake.
Gilpin.
3.
To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
He
amused
his followers with idle promises.
Johnson.
Syn. – To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.
– To
Amuse
,
Divert
,
Entertain
. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident.
Whatever
amuses
serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever
entertains
usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever
diverts
is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects.
Crabb.

A-muse′

,
Verb.
I.
To muse; to mediate.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Amuse

AMU'SE

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. [Gr. and L. musso.]
1.
To entertain the mind agreeably; to occupy or detain attention with agreeable objects, whether by singing, conversation, or a show of curiosities. Dr.Johnson remarks, that amuse implies something less lively than divert, and less important than please. Hence it is often said, we are amused with trifles.
2.
To detain; to engage the attention by hope or expectation; as, to amuse one by flattering promises.

Definition 2024

amuse

amuse

See also: amusé

English

Verb

amuse ‎(third-person singular simple present amuses, present participle amusing, simple past and past participle amused)

  1. (transitive) To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing emotions.
    I watch these movies because they amuse me.
    It always amuses me to hear the funny stories why people haven't got a ticket, but I never let them get in without paying.
    • Gilpin
      A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake.
  2. To cause laughter, to be funny.
  3. (transitive, archaic) To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
    • Johnson
      He amused his followers with idle promises.
  4. (transitive, archaic) To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
    • Holland
      Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold.
    • Fuller
      Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • amuse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

Verb

amuse

  1. first-person singular present indicative of amuser
  2. third-person singular present indicative of amuser
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of amuser
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of amuser
  5. second-person singular imperative of amuser

Etymology

From Middle English amusen ‎(“to mutter, be astonished, gaze meditatively on”), from Middle French amuser ‎(“to amuse, divert, babble”), from Old French amuser ‎(“to stupefy, waste time, be lost in thought”), from a- + muser ‎(“to stare stupidly at, gape, wander, waste time, loiter, think carefully about, attend to”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Cognate with Occitan musa ‎(“idle waiting”), Italian musare ‎(“to gape idly about”). Possibly from Old French *mus ‎(“snout”) from Proto-Romance *mūsa ‎(“snout”) (—compare Medieval Latin mūsum ‎(“muzzle, snout”)), from Proto-Germanic *mū- ‎(“muzzle, snout”), from Proto-Indo-European *mū- ‎(“lips, muzzle”). Compare North Frisian müs, mös ‎(“mouth”), German Maul ‎(“muzzle, snout”).

Alternative etymology connects Old French muser and Occitan musa with Old Frankish *muoza ‎(“careful attention, leisure, idleness”), from Proto-Germanic *mōtǭ ‎(“leave, permission”), from Proto-Indo-European *med- ‎(“to acquire, possess, control”). Cognate with Flemish musen ‎(“to leisure”) Old High German *muoza ‎(“careful attention, leisure, idleness”), Old High German muozōn ‎(“to be idle, have leisure or opportunity”), German Muße ‎(“leisure”). More at empty.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əˈmjuːz/
  • Rhymes: -uːz

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