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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Entertain \En'ter*tain"\, verb (used with an object) [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.
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}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
entertained \entertained\ adjective p. p. of {entertain}.
Syn: amused, diverted. [WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
entertained
adjective: pleasantly occupied; "We are not amused" -Queen Victoria [syn: {amused}, {diverted}]
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |