en·ter·tain /ˌɛntɚ/
 (vt.)招待,款待;使歡樂,使娛樂(vi.)款待,請客


 En·ter·tain v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained p. pr. & vb. n. Entertaining.]
 1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
    You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.   --Shak.
 2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.
    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained unawares.   --Heb. xiii. 2.
 3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation, etc.
    The weary time she can not entertain.   --Shak.
 4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain a proposal.
    I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.   --De Quincey.
    A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.   --Hawthorne.
 5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.]
 6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments.
 7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.]
    To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services institutions of the holy Jesus.   --Jer. Taylor.
 Syn: -- To amuse; divert; maintain. See Amuse.


 En·ter·tain v. i. To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously.


 En·ter·tain, n.  Entertainment. [Obs.]

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 entertain
      v 1: provide entertainment for
      2: take into consideration, have in view; "He entertained the
         notion of moving to South America" [syn: think of, {toy
         with, flirt with, think about]
      3: maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings); "bear a grudge";
         "entertain interesting notions"; "harbor a resentment"
         [syn: harbor, harbour, hold, nurse]


 Entertain
    Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public
    festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam.
    9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in
    connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of
    children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on
    birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam.
    13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam.
    3:35; Jer. 16:7).

      The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3),
    who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke
    14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each
    guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was
    intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34).

      The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial
    entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of
    false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to
    partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28).

      In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the
    Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians
    were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)