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Webster 1913 Edition


Entertainment

Enˊter-tain′ment

,
Noun.
[Cf. OF.
entretenement
.]
1.
The act of receiving as host, or of amusing, admitting, or cherishing; hospitable reception; also, reception or treatment, in general.
The
entertainment
of Christ by faith.
Baxter.
The sincere
entertainment
and practice of the precepts of the gospel.
Bp. Sprat.
2.
That which entertains, or with which one is entertained;
as:
(a)
Hospitality; hospitable provision for the wants of a guest; especially, provision for the table; a hospitable repast; a feast; a formal or elegant meal.
(b)
That which engages the attention agreeably, amuses or diverts, whether in private, as by conversation, etc., or in public, by performances of some kind; amusement.
Theatrical
entertainments
conducted with greater elegance and refinement.
Prescott.
3.
Admission into service; service.
Some band of strangers in the adversary’s
entertainment
.
Shakespeare
4.
Payment of soldiers or servants; wages.
[Obs.]
Syn. – Amusement; diversion; recreation; pastime; sport; feast; banquet; repast; carousal.

Webster 1828 Edition


Entertainment

ENTERTA'INMENT

,
Noun.
The receiving and accommodating of guests, either with or without reward. The hospitable man delights in the entertainment of his friends.
1.
Provisions of the table; hence also, a feast; a superb dinner or supper.
2.
The amusement, pleasure or instruction, derived from conversation, discourse, argument, oratory, music, dramatic performances, &c.; the pleasure which the mind receives from any thing interesting, and which holds or arrests the attention. We often have rich entertainment, in the conversation of a learned friend.
3.
Reception; admission.
4.
The state of being in pay or service. [Not used.]
5.
Payment of those retained in service.
6.
That which entertains; that which serves for amusement; the lower comedy; farce.

Definition 2024


entertainment

entertainment

English

Alternative forms

Noun

entertainment (countable and uncountable, plural entertainments)

  1. 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.
    • 1957, William O. Douglas, Roth v. United States:
      The delinquents are generally the adventurous type, who have little use for reading and other non-active entertainment.
  2. a show put on for the enjoyment or amusement of others
  3. (obsolete) maintenance or support
    • 1854?, Charles Dickens, The Seven Poor Travellers:
      "This," said the matronly presence, ushering me into a low room on the right, "is where the Travellers sit by the fire, and cook what bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences."
      "O! Then they have no Entertainment?" said I. For the inscription over the outer door was still running in my head, and I was mentally repeating, in a kind of tune, "Lodging, entertainment, and fourpence each."
  4. Admission into service; service.
    • 1601-1608, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well:
      He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment.
  5. (obsolete) Payment of soldiers or servants; wages.
    • Sir John Davies
      The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival was but six shillings and eight pence.

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