Category:Entertain

En`ter*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Entertaining.] Etym: [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. Hebrews 13:2.

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.

entertain En`ter*tain", v. i.

Defn: To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously.

entertain En`ter*tain", n. Etym: [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]

Defn: Entertainment. [Obs.] Spenser.

---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Entertain - Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Samuel 9:13), in token of alliances (Genesis 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Genesis 21:8), at weddings (Genesis 29:22; John 2:1), on birthdays (Matthew 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Samuel 13:23), and of vintage (Judges 9:27), and at funerals (2 Samuel 3:35; Jeremiah 16:7). The guests were invited by servants (Proverbs 9:3; Matthew 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Samuel 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Samuel 1:4; 2 Samuel 6:19), except when special honor was intended, when the portion was increased (Genesis 43:34). The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Exodus 34:15), because these were in honor of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Corinthians 10:28). In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revelings," against which Christians were warned (Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3). (See BANQUET.)