ENTERTAIN
entertain, think of, toy with, flirt with, think about
(verb) take into consideration, have in view; “He entertained the notion of moving to South America”
harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse
(verb) maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); “bear a grudge”; “entertain interesting notions”; “harbor a resentment”
entertain
(verb) provide entertainment for
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
entertain (third-person singular simple present entertains, present participle entertaining, simple past and past participle entertained)
(transitive) To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
(transitive and intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
(transitive) To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
(obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
(obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
(obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
Noun
entertain (uncountable)
(obsolete) Entertainment; pleasure.
(obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
Anagrams
• Tarentine, Terentian, antienter
Source: Wiktionary
En`ter*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entertaining.] Etym: [F. entretenir; entre between (L. inter) + tenir
to hold, L. tenere. See Tenable.]
1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to
maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred. Shak.
2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at
one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have
entertained unawares. Heb. xiii. 2.
3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which
makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends
with conversation, etc.
The weary time she can not entertain. Shak.
4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take
into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain
a proposal.
I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy
of Locke. De Quincey.
A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by
some very sensible people. Hawthorne.
5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the
mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments.
7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.]
To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services
institutions of the holy Jesus. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
– To amuse; divert; maintain. See Amuse.
En`ter*tain", v. i.
Definition: To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
entertains generously.
En`ter*tain", n. Etym: [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
Definition: Entertainment. [Obs.] Spenser.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition