entertainment

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An activity designed to give pleasure, enjoyment, diversion, amusement, or relaxation to an audience, no matter whether the audience participates passively as in watching opera or a movie, or actively as in games.

   The delinquents are generally the adventurous type, who have little use for reading and other non-active entertainment.

2. 2
   noun

   Maintenance or support.

   "This," said the matronly presence, ushering me into a low room on the right, "is where the Travellers sit by the fire, and cook what bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences." "O! Then they have no Entertainment?" said I. For the inscription over the outer door was still running in my head, and I was mentally repeating, in a kind of tune, "Lodging, entertainment, and fourpence each."

3. 3
   noun

   An admission into service; a service.

   He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment.

4. 4
   noun

   The payment of soldiers or servants; wages.

   The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival was but six shillings and eight pence.

5. 5
   noun

   A reception; a (provision of) food to guests or travellers.

   I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold Can in this desert place buy entertainment, Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed.

6. 6
   noun

   an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention

7. 7
   noun

   A show put on for the enjoyment or amusement of others.

Etymology

From Middle English entretenement (“support, maintenance”), from Old French entretenement; see entertain. Morphologically entertain + -ment.