entertain

Meaning

1. to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably
2. to have someone over at one's home for a party or visit
3. to receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind
4. (obsolete) to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep
5. (obsolete) to meet or encounter, as an enemy
6. (obsolete) to lead on; to bring along; to introduce
7. to help; to assist

amuse

treat

conduct oneself

make welcome

flirt with

make laugh

treat well

attend on

receive guests

lavish attention on

show hospitality to

treat to a feast

tickle someone’s fancy

make glad

pay attention to

Frequency

Hyphenated as

en‧ter‧tain

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌɛntəˈteɪn/

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.