Hypertext Webster Gateway: "entertain"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
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}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Entertained}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Entertaining}.] [F. entretenir; entre between
(L. inter) + tenir to hold, L. tenere. See {Tenable}.]
1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service;
to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. i.
To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
entertains generously.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
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; as of a theory, thoughts, or feelings; "bear a
grudge"; "hold a grudge" [syn: {harbor}, {harbour}, {hold},
{nurse}]
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