'Entertain' definitions:

Definition of 'entertain'

(from WordNet)
verb
Provide entertainment for
verb
Take into consideration, have in view; "He entertained the notion of moving to South America" [syn: entertain, think of, toy with, flirt with, think about]
verb
Maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge"; "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment" [syn: harbor, harbour, hold, entertain, nurse]

Definition of 'Entertain'

From: GCIDE
  • Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Entertaining.] [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. [1913 Webster]
  • You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest. [1913 Webster]
  • Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained unawares. --Heb. xiii. 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • The weary time she can not entertain. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]
  • A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services institutions of the holy Jesus. --Jer. Taylor.
  • Syn: To amuse; divert; maintain. See Amuse. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Entertain'

From: GCIDE
  • Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. i. To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Entertain'

From: GCIDE
  • Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.] Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'entertain'

From: Easton
  • Entertain Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7).
  • The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34).
  • The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28).
  • In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)

Synonyms of 'entertain'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Entertain'