entertain

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To amuse or interest people, especially with a performance or activity.

   The clown entertained the children at the party.

2. 2
   verb

   To invite people to your home and look after them as guests.

   They enjoy entertaining friends at the weekend.

3. 3
   verb

   To think about or consider an idea or possibility.

   I entertained the notion of moving to South America.

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”.

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