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entertain definition

en·ter·tain (ent′ər tān′)

transitive verb

  1. Archaic to keep up; maintain
  2. to hold the interest of and give pleasure to; divert; amuse
  3. to give hospitality to; have as a guest
  4. to allow oneself to think about; have in mind; consider to entertain an idea

Etymology: ME entretinen < OFr entretenir, to maintain, hold together < entre (L inter), between + tenir < L tenere, to hold: see thin

intransitive verb

to give hospitality to guests

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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