entertain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   take into consideration, have in view

   I entertained the notion of moving to South America.

2. 2
   verb

   to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably

   to entertain friends with lively conversation

3. 3
   verb

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

   They enjoy entertaining a lot.

4. 4
   verb

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

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

5. 5
   verb

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

   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.

6. 6
   verb

   to meet or encounter, as an enemy

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

7. 7
   verb

   to lead on; to bring along; to introduce

   to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

8. 8
   noun

   Entertainment; 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 […]

Etymology

From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.