Hyper Dictionary

English Dictionary Computer Dictionary Thesaurus Dream Dictionary Medical Dictionary


Search Dictionary:  

Meaning of ENTERTAIN

Pronunciation:  `entur'teyn

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [v]  take into consideration, have in view; "He entertained the notion of moving to South America"
  2. [v]  maintain; as of a theory, thoughts, or feelings; "bear a grudge"; "hold a grudge"
  3. [v]  provide entertainment for
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: flirt with, harbor, harbour, hold, nurse, think about, think of, toy with
 
 See Also: amuse, contemplate, disport, divert, experience, feel, host, socialise, socialize

 

 

Products Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

Entertain
Entertain

more details ...

 
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [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}.
    
  2. \En`ter*tain"\, v. i.
    To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
    entertains generously.
    
  3. \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
    Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser.
    
 
Easton Bible Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7).

The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34).

The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28).

In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)

 
Thesaurus Terms
 
 Related Terms: accommodate, admit, allow, amuse, amusement, bear, beguile, bestow, billet, board, bosom, cater to, cherish, cling to, clip, consider, contemplate, convulse, cultivate, delight, disport, dissipation, distraction, diversion, divert, divertissement, do the honors, domicile, embosom, embrace, enjoyment, enliven, entertain guests, entertainment, exhilarate, feed, fondle, foster, fracture one, gaiety, give a party, gladden, gratify, guest, harbor, have, have and hold, hold, hold on to, host, house, hug, inquire into, invite, keep, kill, knock dead, lodge, loosen up, maintain, nourish, nurse, nurture, occupy, play, please, pleasure, preside, put up, quarter, raise a laugh, raise a smile, receive, recreate, recreation, refresh, regale, rejoice, relax, relaxation, relief, room, see about, slay, sleep upon, solace, sport, support, sustain, take under advisement, take under consideration, think it over, throw a party, tickle, titillate, tolerate, treasure, treasure up, treat, wow
 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2000-2003 WEBNOX CORP. HOME | ABOUT HYPERDICTIONARY