AMUSES
Verb
amuses
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of amuse
Anagrams
• Seamus, assume
Source: Wiktionary
AMUSE
A*muse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amused; p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] Etym:
[F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, ad) + OF. muser. See
Muse, v.]
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 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 extraction; 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 a wakens the
understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in
its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects. Crabb.
A*muse", v. i.
Definition: To muse; to mediate. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition