entertain

present singular third person entertains · participle present entertaining · participle past entertained · past entertained · alternative entertaine

1. transitiveTo amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.

   to entertain friends with lively conversation

   1 more example

   The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.

2. intransitivetransitiveTo have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit.

   They enjoy entertaining a lot.

   2 more examples

   Be not forgetful to entertain strangers[…]

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 13:2

   About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings.

   1958 August 28, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523

3. transitiveTo receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.

   to entertain a proposal

   3 more examples

   The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.

   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, →OCLC

4. obsoleteTo take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.

   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, →OCLC, [Act XXVI, scene iii], page vi

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   Intreat '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 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I

5. obsoleteTo meet or encounter, as an enemy.

   Penalty for entertaining a Deserter

   1860, British Parliament, Naval Discipline Act, page 1069

   1 more example

   O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France

   1599 (date written), 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, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

6. obsoleteTo lead on; to bring along; to introduce.

   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, →OCLC

7. IndiaMalaysiaPhilippinessometimesTo help; to assist; to answer a phone call.

alternative entertaine

1. obsoleteuncountableEntertainment; pleasure.

   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, →OCLC, Act V, scene iii

2. obsoleteuncountableReception of a guest; welcome.

   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, →OCLC