entertain

entertain

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌɛn.tɚˈteɪn/

• Syllable Breakdown:

• en /ɛn/ - /ɛ/ (short vowel sound as in "bed") + /n/ (nasal consonant)

• ter /tɚ/ - /t/ (voiceless alveolar stop) + /ɚ/ (rhotic vowel)

• tain /teɪn/ - /t/ (voiceless alveolar stop) + /eɪ/ (long vowel diphthong) + /n/ (nasal consonant)

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Word Form Variations

• Present Tense: entertain

• Third-Person Singular Present Tense: entertains

• Past Tense: entertained

• Past Participle: entertained

• Gerund: entertaining

• Adjective: entertaining

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Verb:

• Definition: To provide amusement or enjoyment to someone; to hold someone's attention and interest.

• Synonyms: amuse, divert, delight, beguile, regale, engage, captivate, fascinate

• Antonyms: bore, dull, tire, weary, repel, alienate, disenchant

Adjective:

• Definition: Providing amusement or enjoyment; interesting and engaging.

• Synonyms: amusing, diverting, delightful, captivating, fascinating, engaging, gripping

• Antonyms: boring, dull, tedious, monotonous, uninspiring, uninteresting

Noun:

• Definition: Entertainment; an event or activity that provides amusement or enjoyment.

• Synonyms: amusement, diversion, recreation, pastime, spectacle, show, performance

• Antonyms: boredom, tedium, monotony

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Examples of Use

Books

• Literature: "The magician entertained the children with his incredible illusions." (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling)

• Academic Writing: "The author's primary goal is to entertain the reader while simultaneously conveying a powerful message." (A literary criticism essay)

Newspapers and Online Publications

• News Article: "The mayor entertained the visiting dignitaries with a tour of the city's historical landmarks." (The New York Times)

• Blog Post: "I'm always looking for new ways to entertain my kids on rainy days." (A parenting blog)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

• Movie Trailer: "Get ready to be entertained by the summer's biggest blockbuster!" (A movie trailer on YouTube)

• Social Media Post: "Had such an entertaining night at the comedy club!" (A Facebook post)

General Public Discourse

• Conversation: "I'm planning to entertain some friends for dinner this weekend." (A casual conversation)

• Public Speech: "Our goal is to entertain and educate the public about the importance of environmental conservation." (A speech at a community event)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Entertain

1. "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." — Aristotle

2. "We must learn to entertain ourselves with ideas, for the mind that is never fed grows dull." — Sophocles (paraphrased from classical interpretations)

3. "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. And while we’re here, why not entertain the idea of peace?" — Martin Luther King Jr. (variations of this quote often include “entertain the idea”)

4. "I entertain no doubt of our eventual success." — Ulysses S. Grant

5. "The purpose of art is to raise people to a higher level of awareness, not just to entertain." — Marina Abramović

6. "I entertain a hope that the public will not be insensible to this work." — Charles Dickens (preface to Oliver Twist)

7. "The human mind can entertain contradictory ideas without necessarily being dishonest." — F. Scott Fitzgerald (often paraphrased from his essays)

8. "The aim of literature is to instruct, to entertain, to move." — Horace

9. "Entertain the idea that you could be wrong, and you may become wise." — Unknown (common philosophical proverb)

10. "We must entertain great hopes, for by them the soul is raised." — Euripides

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Etymology

The word "entertain" has its roots in the Latin words "inter" (meaning "between" or "among") and "tenere" (meaning "to hold"). So, originally, it meant something like "to hold together" or "to keep among."

Over time, the meaning shifted. By the 15th century, it started to mean "to receive and provide for as a host," like welcoming guests into your home and taking care of them. It also came to mean "to amuse or divert," like telling stories or playing music to keep someone's attention.

So, even though it might seem like "entertain" has always meant to make someone laugh or have fun, it actually started with a more general idea of holding or keeping something together, and then evolved to include the idea of hospitality and amusement.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Entertain

Let’s explore some interesting phrases and idioms that capture similar ideas to "entertain":

• "To hold court": This idiom describes someone who enjoys being the center of attention and likes to entertain others with their wit and charm.

• "To keep someone at bay": While not directly about entertainment, this idiom suggests holding someone at a distance, preventing them from engaging or entertaining you.

• "To keep someone amused": A more straightforward phrase with a similar meaning to "to entertain."

• "To hold forth": This idiom describes someone who enjoys talking at length and entertaining others with their opinions and stories, even if they don't always want to listen.

• "To play to the gallery": This idiom refers to someone who tries to entertain or impress a particular audience by appealing to their emotions or prejudices.

Original Phrases:

• "To weave a web of entertainment": This phrase evokes the idea of creating a captivating and intricate experience for others.

• "To be a captive of entertainment": This phrase highlights the potential for entertainment to become addictive or all-consuming.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of entertain from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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