entertain

== English == === Alternative forms === entertaine (obsolete) === 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”. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/, [ˌɛ̃ɾ̃ɚˈtʰeɪn] Hyphenation: en‧ter‧tain Rhymes: -eɪn === Verb === entertain (third-person singular simple present entertains, present participle entertaining, simple past and past participle entertained) (transitive) to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably (transitive and intransitive) To have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit. (transitive) to receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind (obsolete) to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep (obsolete) to meet or encounter, as an enemy (obsolete) to lead on; to bring along; to introduce (Philippines, Malaysia, India, sometimes in business) to help; to assist; to answer a phone call ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === entertain (uncountable) (obsolete) Entertainment; pleasure. (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome. ==== Alternative forms ==== entertaine === Further reading === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “entertain”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “entertain”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “entertain”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === Tarentine, Terentian, antienter