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more about entertain
entertain |
5 definitions found 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 1.6 [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}, {turn to}, {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}] 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}.)
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