Provides amusement or enjoyment to someone; holds the attention and interest of an audience.
From French 'entretenir,' combining 'entre-' (between) and 'tenir' (to hold). Originally meant 'to hold together' or maintain. The meaning shifted to 'amuse' or 'provide amusement' in English by the 1500s.
The root of 'entertain' literally means 'to hold between'—and that's exactly what a good entertainer does: they hold your attention between the beginning and end of a performance, keeping you engaged the whole time!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.