different between entertain vs entertainable

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + tene? (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??nt??te?n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??nt??te?n/, [??????t?e?n]
• Hyphenation: en?ter?tain
• Rhymes: -e?n

Verb

entertain (third-person singular simple present entertains, present participle entertaining, simple past and past participle entertained)

1. (transitive) To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.

2. (transitive and intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.

   • Be not forgetful to entertain strangers […]

3. (transitive) To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
   • 1851, Thomas De Quincey, Literary Reminiscences

     I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.

   • A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.

4. (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
5. (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
6. (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
   • 1673, Jeremy Taylor, Heniaytos: A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year […]

     to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

Derived terms

• entertainer
• entertaining
• entertainment

Related terms

Translations

Noun

entertain (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Entertainment; pleasure.
2. (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.8:

     But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […].

Further reading

• entertain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• entertain in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• entertain at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Tarentine, Terentian, antienter

English

Etymology

entertain +? -able

Adjective

entertainable (comparative more entertainable, superlative most entertainable)

1. Capable of being entertained.