entertain

Verb
Synonyms: think oftoy withflirt withthink aboutharborharbourholdnurse

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

  1. provide entertainment for
  2. take into consideration, have in view“He entertained the notion of moving to South America”Synonyms: think oftoy withflirt withthink about
  3. maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)“bear a grudge”“entertain interesting notions”“harbor a resentment”Synonyms: harborharbourholdnurse
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Entertaining.] [F. entretenir; entre between (L. inter) + tenir to hold, L. tenere. See Tenable.]

1.To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep. [1913 Webster]

You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest. [1913 Webster]

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained unawares.— Heb. xiii. 2.[1913 Webster]

3.To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation, etc. [1913 Webster]

The weary time she can not entertain.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

4.To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain a proposal. [1913 Webster]

I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.— De Quincey.[1913 Webster]
A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.— Hawthorne.[1913 Webster]

5.To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6.To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments. [1913 Webster]

7.To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services institutions of the holy Jesus.— Jer. Taylor.

Syn: To amuse; divert; maintain. See Amuse. [1913 Webster]

Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. i. To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously. [1913 Webster]
Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.] Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
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