entertain 
There are n sort of nu-n xvhnse visages 
IK (Tram an.) limntlc likf a standing jK'ii'l ; 
Ami ilu it wilful .stillnr?<> ' "' ' '""I. 
.N'/i.iA-.. M. of V., I. 1. 
He futertain'il a H|IOW so seeming just, 
And tlinrin to i-n-i'Miiccd his secret evil, 
That jealousy itself M not mistrust. 
NA.i*., I. u. Tin-, 1. 1514. 
2t. To maintain physically; provide for; sup- 
port; hence, to take into service. 
A mantle and !>ow, anil quiver also, 
I (five them whom I entertain. 
Kiibin II""/ null Hi'- linii'.K-i- ii'liild's Ballails, V. 210). 
In all his Kingdonic were so few good Artificers, that 
nee entertained from England Goldsmiths, Plunimers, 
Carvers and Polishers of stone, and Watch-makers. 
Capt. John Smith, True Travels, I. 45. 
Tn baptize all nations, and entertain them into the ser- 
vices anil institutions of the holy Jesus. Jer. Taylor. 
They hnve many hospitals well entertained. 
Bp. Burntt, Travels, p. 49. 
3. To provide comfort or gratification for; 
care for by hospitality, attentions, or diver- 
sions ; gratify or amuse ; hence, to receive and 
provide for, as a guest, freely or for pay; fur- 
nish with accommodation, refreshment, or di- 
version: as, to entertain one's friends at din- 
ner, or with music and conversation; to be 
entertained at an inn or at the theater. 
See, yonr guests approach ; 
Address yourself to entertain them sprightly, 
And let's be red with mirth. Shalt., W. T., Iv. 3. 
The Queen going In progress, passed thro 1 Oxford, where 
she was entertained by the Scholars with Orations, Stage- 
plays, and Disputations. Baker, Chronicles, p. 380. 
4f. To provide for agreeably, as the passage 
of time ; while away ; divert. 
I play the noble housewife with the time, 
To entertain it so merrily with a fool. 
Shak., All's Well, 11. 2. 
Where he may likeliest find 
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 
The Irksome hours. Milton, P. L., il. 526. 
We entertained the time upon several! subjects, espe- 
cialy the affaires of England and the lamentable condi- 
tion of our Church. Early n. Diary, July 2, 1651. 
5f. To take in; receive; give admittance to; 
admit. 
Princes and worthy personages of your own eminence 
have entertained poems of this nature with a serious wel- 
come. Ford, Fancies, Ded. 
Here shall they rest also a little, till we see how this 
newes was entertained in England. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's True Travels, II. 78. 
When our chalice is filled with holy oil, ... it will . ,. 
tertain none of the waters of bitterness. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 65. 
6. To take into the mind ; take into consider- 
ation ; consider with reference to decision or 
action; give heed to; harbor: as, to entertain 
a proposal. 
Romeo, 
Who had but newly ente.rtain'd revenge. 
Shale., R. and. I., lit 1. 
If thou entcrtainrst my love, let it appear in thy smiling. 
SAot., T. N., il. 5. 
I would not ml,- fin in a base design. 
Sir T. Brotcne, Religio Medici, ii. 13. 
The question of questions for the politician should ever 
be" what type of social structure am I tending to pro- 
duce?" But this is a question he never entertains. 
II. .s>'.nv .-, Man vs. State, p. 26. 
7. To hold in the mind; maintain; cherish: as, 
to entertain decided opinions; he entertains the 
belief that he is inspired. 8f. To engage; give 
occupation to, as in a contest. 
O noble English, that could entertain 
With half their forces the full pride of France. 
Shak., Hen. V., 1. 2. 
Caesar in his first journey, mtrrtnin'd with a sharp tight, 
lost no small numl>er of his Foot. Milton, Hist. EIIK-, ii. 
9f. To treat; consider; regard. 
I'll entertain myself like one that I am not acquainted 
withal. Shak., M. W. of W., Ii. 1. 
We say that it is unreasonable we should not be enter- 
tained as men, because some think we are not as K<*nl < 'hris- 
tians as they pretend to with us. 
!' an. Liberty of Conscience, v. 
= Syn. 3. Dirrrt, Beynile. See amii*,: 
U. intrant. To exercise hospitality; give en- 
tertainments; receive company: as, he enter- 
tain,* generously. 
entertain* (en-ter-tan'), n. [< entertain, v.] 
Entertainment. 
But m-eile, that answers not to all requests. 
Bad them not looke for better '-iif>-rtai/n>-. 
.s>',w,-, K. ().. IV. vili. 27. 
Your entertain shall be 
As doth befit our honour, anil your worth. 
Shak., Pericles, 1. 1. 
entertainer (en-ter-ta'ner), . One who enter- 
tains, in any sense. 
We draw nigh to God, when, upon our conversion to him. 
we become the receptacles and entertainers of his good 
Spirit. Bp. Hall, Remains, p. 89. 
1949 
fTheyl proved fngrateful and treacherous guests to their 
best frirtiiln ami i'iitertainern. 
Milton, Articles of Peace with Irish. 
entertaining (en-ter-ta'ning), ;>. . Affording 
entertainment; pleasing; amusing; diverting: 
as, an > nt< i /<j/wi./ story; an entertaining friend. 
His [James II. 's) brother had been in the habit of attend 
ing the sittings of the Lord* for amusement, and used 
often to say that a debate was as entertaining as a comedy. 
Macaulay, Hist Eng., vi. 
entertainingly (en-ter-ta'ning-li), adv. In an 
entertaining manner; interestingly; divert- 
ingly. 
When company meet, he that can talk entertaininfilii 
upon common subjects . . . has an excellent talent. 
Bp. Sherlock, Discourses, xxxvi. 
My conversation, says Dryden very entertainingly of 
himself, Is dull and slow, my humour saturnine ana re- 
served. J. Warton, Essay on Pope. 
entertainingness (en-ter-ta'niug-nes), n. The 
quality of being entertaining or diverting. 
entertainment (eu-ter-tan'ment), n. [< OF. 
entretenement, F. entretenement = Sp. entreteni- 
miento = Pg. entretenimento = It. intertenimento, 
intrattenimento, < ML. intertenementum, < inter- 
tenere, entertain : see entertain.] 1. The act of 
furnishing accommodation, refreshment, good 
cheer, or diversion ; that which entertains, or 
the act of entertaining, as by hospitality, agree- 
able attentions, or amusement. Specifically (a) 
Hospitable treatment, accommodation, or provision for 
the physical wants, as of guests, with or without pay : as, 
a house of entertainment for travelers. 
He entertainement gave to them 
With venison fat and good. 
True Tale of Robin Hood (Child's Ballads, V. 360). 
We are all in very good health, and, having tried our 
ship's entertainment now more than a week, we find it 
agree very well with us. 
Winthrop, Hist. Xew England, I. 441. 
Enter therefore and partake 
The slender entertainment of a house 
Once rich, now poor. Tennyson, Geraint. 
( M An exhibition or a performance which affords instruc- 
tion or amusement ; the act of providing gratification or 
diversion : as, the entertainment of friends with a supper 
and dance ; a musical or dramatic entertainment. 
At recitation of our comedy, 
For entertainment of the great Valois, 
I acted young Antinous. B. Jonsnn, Volpone, Hi. 6. 
Beautiful plcturesarethecii/crtainnwnteof pure minds, 
and deformities of the corrupted. SteeU, Spectator, No. 100. 
A great number of dramatick entertainment* are not 
comedies, but five-act farces. Gay. 
2f. Maintenance; support; physical or mental 
provision ; means of maintenance, or the state 
of being supported, as in service, under suffer- 
ing, etc. 
He must think us some band of strangers i' the adver- 
sary's entertainment. Shak., All's Well, Iv. 1. 
The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival 
was but six shillings and eight pence. 
Sir J. Davies, State of Ireland. 
These chuffs, that every day may spend 
A soldier's entertainment for a year, 
Yet make a third meal of a bunch of raisins. 
Masnnger, Duke of Milan, iii. 1. 
3. Mental enjoyment ; instruction or amuse- 
ment afforded by anything seen or heard, as a 
spectacle, a play, conversation or story, music 
or recitation. 
The stage might he made a perpetual source of the most 
noble and useful entertainment were it under proper regu- 
lations. Addition. 
4f. Reception; treatment. 
1 Serv. Here's no place for you : Pray, go to the door. 
Cor. I have deserv'd no better entertainment, 
In being Coriolanus. Shak., Cor., Iv. 5. 
5. A holding or harboring in the mind ; a tak- 
ing into consideration : as, the entertainment of 
extravagant notions; the entertainment of a 
proposal. 
This friar hath been with him, and advised him for the 
entertainment of death. Shot., M. for M., ill. 2. 
Such different entertainment as we call "belief, conjec- 
ture, guess, doubt, wavering, distrust, disbelief," Ac. 
Locke, Human Understanding. IV. xvi. u. 
That simplicity of manners which should always accom- 
pany the sincere entertainment and practice of the pre- 
cepts of the gospel. Bp. Sprat, Sermons (1676). 
= 8yn. 1 and 3. Diversion, Recreation, etc. See;*, 
entertaket (en-ter-tak'), r. t. [< enter- + toki : 
formed, by Spenser, after entertain and iimlrr- 
ttikr.] To entertain ; receive. 
With more myld aspect those two, to entertake. 
Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. So. 
entertissuedt (en-ter-tish'fld), a. [< enter- + 
auxin'.] Interwoven; having various colors or 
materials intermixed. 
The enter-tissued Robe of Gold and Pearle. 
XA.it., Hen. V. (1623), iv. 1. 
entetcht, r. t. See entech. 
enthrone 
enthealt, entheant (en'the-al, -an), a. [< L. 
pnthciM, < <4r. Mwf, inspired : nee i nthtiftanm.] 
Divinely inspired ; enthusiastic. 
Amidst which hull 
Divine flames of rnthean joy, t.i )i>-i 
That level'd had their way. 
Chamberlaiinr, Pharonnida (I860). 
entheasm (en'the-azm), n. [< Or. as if *tv6e- 
niT/iof, < Mea&tv, fee inspired, < kvdeor,, inspired : 
see i-iitliral.] Divine inspiration ; ecstasy of 
mind; enthusiasm. [Rare.] 
Altho' in one absurdity they chime 
To make religious entheasm a crime. 
Kyrmu, Enthusiasm. 
A steady fervor, a calm persistent enthusiasm or en- 
theatm, . . . which we regret, for the honor and the good 
of human nature, Is t"" rare In medical literature, ancient 
or modern. Dr. J. Brown, Spare Hours, 3d ser., p. 127. 
entheastict (en-the-as'tik), a. [< Gr. 
aof, inspired, < Mtafriv, be inspired: see enthf- 
asm.] Possessing or characterized by enthe- 
asm. Smart. 
entheasticallyt (en-the-as'ti-kal-i), adv. In an 
entheastic manner; with entheasm. Clarke. 
entheatet (en'the-at), a. [< Or. IvOcor,, inspired 
(see entheal), + -ate 1 .] Divinely inspired; filled 
with holy enthusiasm. 
Their orby crystals move 
More active than before, 
And, entheate from above, 
Their sovereign prince laud, glorify, adore. 
Drnmmond, Divine Poems. 
enthelmintha (en-thel-min'tha), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. CVTOC;, within, + e^./itv<: (i$.fuv6-), a worm.] 
In null., a general name of intestinal worms, 
or Entozoa : of no definite classificatory signifi- 
cance. 
enthelminthic (en-thel-min'thik), a. [< enthel- 
mintha + -ic.] Pertaining to enthelmintha. 
enthetic (en-thet'ik), a. [< Gr. Merinos, fit for 
implanting or putting in, < tvfteror,, verbal adj. 
of evTtdcvai, put in, < cv, in, + TiSevat, put : see 
thesis.] Introduced or placed in Enthetic dis- 
eases, diseases propagated by inoculation, as syphilis. 
entheus (en'the-us), n. [Improp. (as a noun in 
abstract sense) < L. enthe M.< Gr. Iweof,, inspired: 
nee entheal, enthusiasm.] Inspiration. [Rare.] 
Without the entheus Nature's self bestows, 
The worfd no painter nor no poet knows. 
J. Scott, Essay on Painting. 
enthral, r. t. See enthrall. 
enthraldom (en-thral'dum), . [< enthrall + 
-<lom.] Same as entliralment. [Rare.] 
The chief instrument in the enthraJdfuti of nations. 
Mi,.,,,. Hist. Europe (Harpers ed., 1842), II. 59. 
enthrall, enthral (en-thral'), v. t. [Formerly 
also inlhrall, inthrnl; < en-1 + thrall.] 1. To 
reduce to the condition of or hold as a thrall or 
captive ; enslave or hold in bondage or subjec- 
tion; subjugate. 
I u-in- the first Christian this proud King and his grim 
attendants euer saw : and thus inthralled in their barba- 
rous power. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's True Travels, II. 30. 
Whereby are meant the victories and conquests of Ven- 
ice inthralliny her enemies. Corj/at, Crudities, I. 254. 
Hence 2. To reduce to or hold in mental sub- 
jection of any kind; subjugate, captivate, or 
charm: as, to enthrall the judgment or the 
senses. 
She soothes, hut never can inthral my mind : 
Why may not peace and love for once be joyn'd ? 
Prior. 
Men will gain little by escaping outward despotism, if 
the Soul continues enthralled. 
Channing, Perfect Life, p. 257. 
The beauty and sorrow [of the Italian cause] enthralled 
her. Stfdman, Viet. Poets, p. 139. 
enthralment, enthrallment (en-thral'ment), 
. [Formerly also inthralment, inthrallment ; 
< enthrall + -ment.] 1. The act of enthralling, 
or the state of being enthralled. 
Till by two brethren (these two brethren call 
Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim 
His people from enthralment, they return. 
Mil Inn. P. L., lit 171. 
2. Anything that enthralls or subjugates. 
But there are 
Richer entanglements, rnthrallments far 
More self-destroying. Keats, Endymion, t. 
enthrillt (en-thril'), r. t. [< e-i + thrill.] To 
pierce; cause to thrill. 
A dart we saw, how it did light 
Right on her breast, and therewithal pale Death 
KntkriUinff It to reave her of her breath. 
Mir. for Mays., p. 265. 
enthrone len-thron'), * * ; pret. and pp. e- 
tlironed, ppr. enthronina. [Formerly also t'w- 
throne; ME. entronen, ^ OF. enthroner, < en- + 
throne, throne. Cf. enthronize.] 1. To place 
on a throne ; exalt to the seat of royalty ; in- 
