I. |entə(r)|tān verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English entertinen, from Middle French entretenir, from entre- inter- + tenir to hold, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin tenire, alteration of Latin tenēre to hold — more at thin
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to keep up : cause (as a custom) to be maintained
entertain a friendly correspondence with his brother
wished to entertain peace with all his neighbors
b. obsolete : to treat in a specified manner
c. obsolete : to give reception to (a person) : receive
d. obsolete : to enter upon : take upon oneself : engage in
2. : to show hospitality to : provide for the needs of (a guest)
entertain your in-laws over the weekend
entertain a friend at lunch
— often used with to in England
entertained to dinner by the entire Bench and Bar — E.M.Lustgarten
3.
a. obsolete : to maintain or support in one's service
you, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred — Shakespeare
b. archaic : hire , engage
c. obsolete : to meet in battle
4.
a. : to keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor : keep in the mind : harbor , cherish
entertains the friendliest sentiments toward him
entertain hopes of a peaceful settlement
entertains no grievance against her
b.
(1) : to receive and take into consideration (as an idea or proposal)
if it had not been for that woman you would never have entertained this teaching scheme at all — Thomas Hardy
the chairman will entertain nominations
refused to entertain her plea
(2) : treat , consider
entertain a subject
I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke — Thomas De Quincey
5. : to cause the time to pass pleasantly for (someone) : amuse , divert
fortunately he was able to entertain his nurses as well as provoke them — Virginia D. Dawson & Betty D. Wilson
entertained troops overseas with songs and skits
intransitive verb
: to provide entertainment especially for guests
even the smallest child is accustomed to entertain without self-consciousness — Nora Waln
Synonyms: see amuse
II. noun
( -s )
obsolete : entertainment