Definition of "entertain"

entertain

/ˌɛntəˈteɪn/

verb
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.
2. (transitive and intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
  Quotations
  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers […]
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Hebrews 13:2
3. (transitive) To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
  Quotations
  I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
  1851, Thomas De Quincey, Literary Reminiscences
  A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
  1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields
4. (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
  Quotations
  Entreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech,And seem to them as if thy sins were great,Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd.
  c. 1589–1590, Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Ievv of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, Act I, [scene i]
  You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
  c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene vi]
5. (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
  Quotations
  O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France
  1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]
  Penalty for entertaining a Deserter
  1860, British Parliament, Naval Discipline Act‎, page 1069
6. (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
  Quotations
  to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus
  1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655
noun
uncountable
1. (obsolete) Entertainment; pleasure.
  Quotations
  And Celſo, prethee let it be thy care to night / To haue ſome pretty ſhew, to ſolemnize / Our high inſtalement, ſome muſike maſkerie: / Weele giue faire entertaine vnto Maria […]
  c. 1603 (date written), Iohn Marston, The Malcontent, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, […], published 1604, Act V, scene iii
2. (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
  Quotations
  But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […]
  1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Definition of "entertain"

entertain

verb

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noun

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