entertain

verb

to provide enjoyment to, amuse
to consider (an idea)

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ / /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/ / [ˌɛ̃ɾ̃ɚˈtʰeɪn]

noun

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”.

Entertainment; pleasure.
“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 […]”
Reception of a guest; welcome.
“But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […]”

verb

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.”
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[…]”
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”
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.”
“You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.”
To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
“O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France”
“Penalty for entertaining a Deserter”
To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
“to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus”
To help; to assist; to answer a phone call.