Etymology From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.
To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
to entertain friends with lively conversation
The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
2
To have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit.
They enjoy entertaining a lot.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers[…]1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 13:2:
1 more example
About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings.1958 August 23, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523:
3
To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
to entertain a proposal
2 more examples
I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.1851, Thomas De Quincey, Literary Reminiscences:
A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
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Obsolete To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
Intreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech, And seem to them as if thy sins were great, Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd.c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act XXVI, scene iii], page vi:
O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
Penalty for entertaining a Deserter1860, British Parliament, Naval Discipline Act, page 1069:
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Obsolete To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC:
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India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sometimes, In business To help; to assist; to answer a phone call.
Etymology From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.
And Celſo, prethee let it be thy care to night / To haue ſome pretty ſhew, to ſolemnize / Our high inſtalement, ſome muſike maſkerie: / Weele giue faire entertaine vnto Maria […]c. 1603 (date written), Iohn Marston, The Malcontent, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, […], published 1604, →OCLC, Act V, scene iii:
But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […]1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC: