entertainment

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An activity designed to give pleasure, enjoyment, diversion, amusement, or relaxation to…

   An activity designed to give pleasure, enjoyment, diversion, amusement, or relaxation to an audience, no matter whether the audience participates passively as in watching opera or a movie, or actively as in games.

   • The delinquents are generally the adventurous type, who have little use for reading and other non-active entertainment.
   • Such abundance must be laid out on superfluous recreations, buildings, ornaments, furniture, equipage, attendants, entertainments, visitations, braveries, and a world of need-nots […]
2. 2

   A show put on for the enjoyment or amusement of others.

3. 3

   Maintenance or support.

4. ›+ 3 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      An admission into service

      An admission into service; a service.

      • He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment.
   2. 5

      The payment of soldiers or servants

      The payment of soldiers or servants; wages.

      • The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival was but six shillings and eight pence.
   3. 6

      A reception

      A reception; a (provision of) food to guests or travellers.

      • I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold Can in this desert place buy entertainment, Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed.

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