entertainment English · revision 4309

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1531|origins=la tenere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌen.təˈteɪn.mənt/, US /ˌen.t̬ɚˈteɪn.mənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|entertain|-ment]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) entertain being [[bor|frm|entretenir|t=to hold together, support]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from entre- “among”, from Latin inter-, and tenir “to hold”, from Latin [[m|la|tenēre|t=to hold]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[maintain]] and [[tenant]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Manner of social behaviour”: 1531 in the OED and the Historical Thesaurus, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) Etymonline gives the 1530s, also for “provision for the support of a retainer”.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster has the 15th century.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its early senses followed those of [[entertain]], “to maintain, keep up”:^(Hoad 1986)^(Barnhart 1988) pay or provision for people in service, especially soldiers, from 1535 to 1787,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and maintenance or support.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) Hospitable provision for guests is from 1539,^(HTOED) and the reception of a guest from 1576.^(HTOED) The occupation of a person's time is from 1551.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) The agreeable occupation of someone's attention, amusement, is from 1612,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) the 1610s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) “That which entertains” is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline) and a performance or show for an audience from 1640 in the Historical Thesaurus,^(HTOED) 1727 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Johnson in 1755 gave first “conversation” and “treatment at the table”.^(Johnson 1755) In Northern Ireland it still meant food and lodging, as on a notice “Entertainment for man and beast”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1531 – manner of behaviour.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1535 – pay for people in service.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1539 – hospitality.^(HTOED)

+ * 1551 – occupation of time.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1612 – amusement.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+ * 1640 – a performance.^(HTOED)

+ * 1650s – that which entertains.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of entertaining.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something that [[amuse]]s or diverts, especially a [[performance]] or show.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The art or industry of entertaining: ''a career in entertainment''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The pleasure of being entertained; [[amusement]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Maintenance, support, or employment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[edutainment]]

+ * [[infotainment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[entertain]]

+ * [[entertainer]]

+ * [[maintain]]

+ * [[tenant]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}