▪ I. † enterˈtain, n. Obs.
Also 6–7 entertaine, 6 -ayne, 7 intertaine.
[f. next: cf. Fr. entretien.]
= entertainment.
1. a. Pleasure; delight. b. An amusement, a merry-making.
| 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. E iiij b, On whose [a river's] prowde banke such entertaine I had. 1638–48 G. Daniel Eclog. iii. 30 Rurall entertains Had noe ill-meanings. 1669 Addr. Hopeful Yng. Gentry Eng. Ep. Ded. A viij, Our masquerades and longer festivous entertains. 1678 Sir T. Browne Let. Wks. 1852 III. 448 Intending to live in Surrey House, and there to make his entertaines; so that he contrives what pictures to lend, etc. |
2. Conversation; social behaviour.
| 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. i. Wks. 1856 I. 11 With most obsequious sleek-browed intertain They all embrace it as most gratious. 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. xlii. 12 To restraine A wife Immodest in her entertaine. |
3. The reception of a guest; also, the treatment of a person as a guest.
| 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 1085 Who..Receyued them with chearefull entertayne. 1605 Heywood If you know not me Wks. 1874 I. 202 Those plausive shouts, which giue you entertaine. 1608 Shakes. Per. i. i. 119 Your entertain shall be As doth befit our honour and your worth. 1640 T. Carew Poems, My Mistr. Commanding me to Return Lett. 15 Tell your Soveraigne..I gave you courteous entertaine. 1651 tr. De las Coveras Hist. Don Fenise 50, I thought to enjoy the deare entertaine of Hipolite. |
b. A meal; esp. a formal or elegant meal; a feast, banquet. Cf. entertainment 11 c.
| 1632 Heywood 1st Pt. Iron Age iii. i. Wks. 1874 III. 302 All welcome to this peacefull intertaine. 1639 G. Daniel Ecclus. xlii. 40 Abstaine To meet with Woemen at an Entertaine. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Misc. Tracts (1684) 203 The dismal Supper and strange Entertain of the Senatours. 1686 Oldham Art Poetry 30 Ill Music..is what the entertain might spare. |
4. Reception into the mind; acceptance.
| 1616 R. Niccols Overbury's Vis. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 357 My counsel might find entertain With those, whose souls, etc. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. iv. 237 Sathan appeared..with a Virgins head, that thereby..his temptation might finde the easier entertaine. |
▪ II. entertain, v.
(ɛntəˈteɪn)
Forms: 5–7 enterteyn(e, 5 entreteyne, (entertien, entretene, -iene), 6–7 entertaine, -ein(e, 6 -ayne, (-ene, 7 -ean, -eign), 6–8 intertain(e, 6–7 -ayn(e, -ein, -eyn(e, (6 interteny, intertynie), 6– entertain.
[late ME. entertene, ad. F. entretenir = Pr. entretenir, Sp. entretener, It. intrattenere:—late L. intertenēre, f. L. inter among + tenēre to hold.]
† I. 1. trans. To hold mutually; to hold intertwined. Also absol. with reciprocal sense. Obs.
| 1481 Caxton Myrr. ii. x. 88 They [bananas] entretiene and cleue to gydre wel an hondred in a clustre. 1578 Banister Hist. Man. viii. 111 An other lesser [nerve] trunke is intertained among the fore partes of the legge. |
II. To maintain, keep up.
† 2. trans. To keep (a person, country, etc.) in a certain state or condition; to keep (a person) in a certain frame of mind. Obs.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xiii. 49 His swete wordes and drawynge atysen and enterteyne her in a contynualle thoughte towarde hym. 1538 Starkey England ii. ii. 191 Hys owne clyent..was interteynyd in long sute. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Agric. (1622) 191 By a kind of courteous and mild regiment intertained the countrey in quiet. 1664 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 170 The Fidelity and prudence of their Ministers seems rather to entertain them in mutual cautele and suspicion. a 1714 Burnet Own Time (1823) I. 425 Cromwell was certainly fond of her, and she took care to entertain him in it. |
3. To keep up, maintain (a state of things, a process); to retain in use (a custom, law, etc.); to maintain, persist in (a course of action, ‘attitude’, state of feeling). Obs. in gen. sense; retained (but somewhat arch.) in a few special uses, as to entertain a correspondence, entertain discourse.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos vii. 31 To enterteyn hir pudyque chastyte in perpetuall wydowhed. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1375/1, I intertained intelligence with the Scottish queane. 1593 Drayton Idea Introd. Sonn., My Muse..cannot long one Fashion intertaine. c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Irene Wks. 164 b, So careful hath he been to intertain peace amongst his subjects. a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scotl. v. (1677) 253 Morton..entertained a long fight with them. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. i. ii. (1673) 21 To entertain the discipline of our Forefathers. 1794 J. Hutton Philos. Light, &c. 182 This heat, in the burning body, is entertained by the extrication of light. 1825 Southey Paraguay iii. 18 The Empress Queen..did not disdain..to entertain Discourse with him. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. vii. 137 Entertaining a friendly correspondence with the orthodox Queen Theodelinda. 1860 Motley Netherl. (1868) I. iv. 111 Philip..might direct all his energies towards entertaining civil war in France. |
† 4. To maintain (something) in existence; to keep in repair or efficiency. Obs.
| 1475 Caxton Jason 72 b, And for to entretiene his astate were ordeyned certayn nombre of peple. 1586 Bright Melanch. ii. 5 These varieties of humours are entertained by nourishments. 1670–98 R. Lassels Voy. Italy I. 42 It's [a bridge] entertain'd at the cost of the king of Spain. |
† 5. To keep, retain (a person) in one's service; to be at the charges of (a person) in return for services rendered by him. Obs.
| 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Gloucester vii, With princely wagies dyd me enterteyne. a 1593 H. Smith Wks. (1866–7) I. 15, I was..entertained with a stipend raised by voluntary contribution. 1625 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 167 Two..Phisitions to bee interteyned and ymployed by this Cittie. 1636 tr. Florus' Hist. 130 They were entertained in pay by King Perses. 1650 Fuller Pisgah iii. ii. 361 Notwithstanding so many labourers entertained in the work, seven years was this Temple in building. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 195 No wonder when so many Italians were entertained in the king's service. |
† b. To take (a person) into one's service; to hire (a servant, etc.); to retain as an advocate.
| 1579 Fenton Guicciard. (1618) 147 They entertained into their pay Charles Vrsin and Bartlemew Aluiano with two hundred men at armes. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 110 Sweet Lady, entertaine him for your Seruant. 1613 Purchas Pilgr. I. v. iii. 392 Gave order..to entertaine halfe of them for the warres. 1676 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 III. 498, I have enterteind Mr. Hall likewise, an able Exchequer atturny. 1721 Perry Daggenh. Breach 71, I..directly entertain'd all the Hands I could get. |
† 6. To maintain; to support; to provide sustenance for (a person). Obs.
| 1640 Bk. War Committee Covenanters 67 Sex musqueteires and ane sergand to be enterteanit upon the publict. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 99/1 Hermogenes, falling into Poverty, Socrates perswaded Diodorus his Friend to entertain. a 1657 Balfour Ann. Scotl. (1824–5) II. 145 That also they take order for intertaining the poore in ilk parochin. 1703 Duke of Queensberry in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 396 IV. 240, I thought it necessary to entertain him with some money. 1771 Antiq. Sarisb., Lives Bps. 169 Ten widows of Clergymen are here entertained, with a very comfortable provision. |
III. To maintain relations with.
† 7. To deal with, have communication with (a person). Obs.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 720 He is a deepe dissimuler..entertayning all men for his owne profite. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 141/2 A Friend is not be entertained out of useful or necessary Ends, nor when such fail, is to be cast off. |
† 8. To treat in a (specified) manner. Obs.
| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 549 He entreteyneth vs above all other honourabli for the love of you. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iii. 72, I am sorry, that with reuerence I did not entertaine thee as thou art. 1608–11 Bp. Hall Medit. (1851) 76 And entertained with all variety of persecution. 1630 M. Godwyn tr. Bp. Hereford's Ann. Eng. 28 He was very disgracefully entertained by Sir Amias Powlet, who clapt him in the stocks. 1662 Gunning Lent Fast 44 Art thou rich? do not contumeliously entertain the [Lent] fast. |
IV. To hold engaged, provide occupation for.
9. To engage, keep occupied the attention, thoughts, or time of (a person): also with attention, etc. as obj. Hence, to discourse to (a person) of something. Obs. exc. arch.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 68, I thinke the best way were, to entertaine him with hope. 1605 Daniel Philotas in Farr S. P. Jas. I (1848) 274 With what strange formes and shadowes ominous Did my last sleepe my griev'd soul intertaine! 1614 Raleigh Hist. World iv. i. §4 The Phocians hoped so to entertain the Thessalians at home, as, etc. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. (1675) 60 Noble enough, and worthy to entertain the Eyes of God. 1684 Contempl. State Man ii. viii. (1699) 218 Entertaining thy self in Pleasures, thou hast for Toys and Fooleries lost Heaven! 1686 W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. §2. 5 Nor is the World any longer to be entertained with Dark Lanthorns. 1692 Bp. of Ely Answ. Touchstone A v, I hope I shall neither tire the Reader, nor entertain him unprofitably. 1748 Chesterfield Lett. II. clxxiii. 142, I have so often entertained you upon these important subjects. a 1850 Rossetti Dante & Circ. i. (1874) 186 Of thee she entertains the blessed throngs. |
† b. To occupy, fill up, wile away (time). Obs.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxv. (Arb.) 306 To entertaine time and ease at home. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 1361 The weary time she cannot entertain. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 526 Where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. 1673 Ray Journ. Low C. 287 We entertained our time pleasantly enough in searching out and describing of plants. |
† c. To give occupation to (an enemy's forces); to engage. Obs.
| 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 12 They presentlie sending certen troupes..to skirmish and entertaine the Mosquettiers. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 111 O Noble English, that could entertaine With half their Forces, the full pride of France. 1647 Sprigge Anglia Rediv. ii. i. (1854) 70 They [colonel Butler's regiment] entertained sir Charles Lucas. 1654 R. Codrington tr. Ivstine's History 192 Porus..had prepared an Army to entertain him [Alexander]. |
10. To engage agreeably the attention of (a person); to amuse. In recent use often also ironical: = ‘to try to entertain’ (with something stupid or uninteresting). Also refl. and absol.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §953 All this to entertain the Imagination that it waver less. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 92/2 We entertained our selves with discourse till the Prison was opened. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. iv. §10 Such relations, which though not true, might yet please and entertain his readers. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxvii. 89, I am very much entertained with him. 1738 Common Sense (1739) II. 127 Thus was poor Lucinda entertain'd out of her Innocence, and diverted into Infamy and Contempt. 1775 Johnson Let. Mrs. Thrale 11 June, You never told me..how you were entertained by Boswell's Journal. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) v. xv, A lady whom you consider it as your duty to entertain. 1823 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. xxiii. (1865) 399 My favourite occupations..now cease to entertain. 1863 Fr. Kemble Resid. Georgia 55 He entertained me with an account of the Darien Society. |
V. To find room for; to give reception to.
† 11. To admit and contain; to ‘accommodate’.
| 1622–62 Heylin Cosmogr. i. (1682) 277 The most safe and capacious Haven..capable of entertaining the greatest Navy. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 200 Hot-beds to entertain..exoctick Plants. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 42 Cut out so much Iron in the Fore and Backsides, as would entertain the main Spindle. 1721 Perry Daggenh. Breach Title-p., Rendering the Ports of Dover and Dublin Commodious for Entertaining large Ships. |
† 12. To give reception to; to receive (a person). Also fig. Sometimes const. into. Obs.
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 659 Divers other..came humbly and submitted themselves, whome he gently enterteined & lovingly receyved. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. i. 120 Since mine owne doores refuse to entertaine me. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. i. 37 Ino..with her sonne Melicerta, were entertained into the number of the Sea-gods. 1650 Baxter Saints' R. i. v. (1654) 51 If the King of Israel riding on an Ass, be entertained into Jerusalem with Hosanna's. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 382 Hell shall unfould, To entertain you two, her widest Gates. |
13. To receive as a guest; to show hospitality to. Also absol.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos xx. 74, I haue them not onely receyued but entreteyned, furnyshed and susteyned, etc. 1513–75 Diurn Occurr. (1833) 102 Directit be our souerane lady to intertynie the said ambassatour vntill hir cummyng. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 2 In receiuyng and interteinyng of geastes and straungers. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. ii. 93 Thou never gavest me a Kid, to entertaine my friends. 1677 Hale Contempl. ii. 131 This World is little other than our Inn to entertain us in our Journey to another Life. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. 16 Gregory was entertained in the house of a pious and charitable kinsman. 1859 Jephson Brittany xvi. 267 The Emperor was entertained at dinner. 1880 Mrs. E. Edwards Pezazi in Macm. Mag. No. 253. 74 We were in such confusion..that we could not entertain. |
† 14. To give reception (to something); to allow (something) to enter; to accept (pay, etc.); to receive (news, events, etc.) in a certain manner.
| 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 119 And being also informed with what great extreamitie you have entertained the newes of his losse. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 6 But were your will her sold to entertaine. 1595 Markham Sir. R. Grinvile (Arb.) 77 Abr'ams faire bosome lyes to entertaine it [thy soule]. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World iv. iii. §15 The Athenians with immoderate joy entertained this happy seeming proclamation. 1620 Quarles Pentelogia in Farr S. P. Jas. I (1848) 138 Did thy cheekes entertaine a traytor's lips? 1696 Stanhope Chr. Pattern (1711) 74 We are to..entertain the most calamitous accidents without murmuring or discontent. c 1710 C. Mather in Blaikie Ministr. Word (1883) 295 To have the truths well entertained with the auditory. |
b. To admit to consideration (an opinion, argument, request, proposal, etc.); to receive (an idea) into the mind.
| 1614 Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 45 But I will suspect a novell opinion, of untrueth; and not entertaine it, unlesse, etc. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. xi. (1675) 130 Who thinks it not time to entertain thoughts of Death. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 128 ¶7, I..have..entertained the Addresses of a Man who I thought lov'd me more than Life. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 409 That is a question which he refuses to entertain. 1885 Act 48 Vict. c. 17 §8 The case shall be stated and the appeal entertained and heard. |
c. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favour; to harbour; to cherish; in weaker sense, to experience (a sentiment).
| 1576 Fleming Panoplie Ep. 4 Nothing (blame and offence excepted) Can chaunce in the life of any man wherein horror is harboured, or feare intertained. 1647 Cowley Mistr., Despair ii, When thoughts of Love I entertain. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 123 ¶5 Leonilla..entertained..a secret Passion for Florio. 1730 Berkeley Let. 7 May, I entertained some thoughts of applying to his Majesty. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch (1879) I. 144/1 The King entertained a deep resentment against him. 1827 Scott Highl. Widow v, [She] perhaps for the moment actually entertained the purpose which she expressed. 1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. I. i. iv. 200 To learn from others, you must entertain a respect for them. |
† 15. To encounter, meet with. Obs. rare.
| 1591 Spenser Virgil's Gnat 563 Th' Argolicke Power returning home againe..Did happie winde and weather entertaine. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 29 That he chose rather to be his owne Executioner, then to entertaine the cruell aspect of his Master. |
† 16. To take upon oneself (an obligation, a relation); to engage in, enter upon (a task). Obs.
| 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 75 Knowing themselves unmeet to entertain wedlock. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 277 That the King should..entertaine that honourable warre. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia vi. 221, I was imploied by many my friends of London to entertaine this plantation. 1667–8 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 232 We onely made one order, that the House would entertein no new businesse till it be calld over. 1719 W. Wood Surv. Trade 10 Trade was first entertain'd..by little States. |