entertain
/ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/ verb B1- 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.
- 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 help; to assist; to answer a phone call.
He/she/it entertains · Past entertained · Past participle entertained · -ing form entertaining
Verb forms
- Base form
- entertain
- He/she/it
- entertains
- Past
- entertained
- Past participle
- entertained
- -ing form
- entertaining
From the library
It was generally evident, whenever they met, that he _did_ admire her; and to _her_ it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and an uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent.
He listened to her with perfect indifference, while she chose to entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed along.
Bingley’s invitation, and if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening’s amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke, either from the Archbishop or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance.
Elizabeth listened with delight to the happy though modest hopes which Jane entertained of Bingley’s regard, and said all in her power to heighten her confidence in it.
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