Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Amuse
A-muse′
(ȧ-mūz′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Amused
(ȧ-mūzd′)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Amusing
.] 1.
To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder.
[Obs.]
Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were
amused
in receiving their gold. Holland.
Being
amused
with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house. Fuller.
2.
To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert.
A group of children
amusing
themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake. Gilpin.
3.
To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
He
amused
his followers with idle promises. Johnson.
Syn. – To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.
– To
Amuse
, Divert
, Entertain
. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident. Whatever
amuses
serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains
usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts
is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects. Crabb.
A-muse′
,Verb.
I.
To muse; to mediate.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Amuse
AMU'SE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To entertain the mind agreeably; to occupy or detain attention with agreeable objects, whether by singing, conversation, or a show of curiosities. Dr.Johnson remarks, that amuse implies something less lively than divert, and less important than please. Hence it is often said, we are amused with trifles.2.
To detain; to engage the attention by hope or expectation; as, to amuse one by flattering promises.