51Թ

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View synonyms for

entertain

[ en-ter-teyn ]

verb (used with object)

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

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  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.

    Antonyms:

  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)

  1. to exercise hospitality; entertain company; provide entertainment for guests:

    They loved to talk, dance, and entertain.

entertain

/ ˌɛԳəˈٱɪ /

verb

  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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • v·t·ٲԱ adjective
  • e·ٱ·ٲ verb (used with object)
  • ܲe·ٱ·ٲԱ adjective
  • ɱ-·ٱ·ٲԱ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of entertain1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English entertenen “to hold mutually,” from Middle French entretenir, ultimately from Vulgar Latin Գٱٱŧ (unrecorded), from Latin inter- inter- + ٱŧ “to hold”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of entertain1

C15: from Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin ٱŧ
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Synonym Study

See amuse.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I want to entertain and get the crowd as close as possible to the team," he told BBC Radio Northampton's Saints Show.

From

And so on, over eight, differently flavored, entertaining episodes.

From

No one with a rudimentary grasp of how nation-states function in the 21st century could possibly entertain this notion.

From

They have spent their whole lives being cared for and entertained by their trainers.

From

“It’s this sort of mentality where you don’t even entertain the possibility of you not being completely, 100% fabulous.”

From

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