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amuse

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amuse

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Amuse  \A*muse"\  ([.a]*m[=u]z"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Amused} 
  ([.a]*m[=u]zd");  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Amusing}.]  [F.  amuser  to 
  make  stay,  to  detain,  to  amuse,  [`a]  (L.  ad)  +  OF  muser.  See 
  {Muse},  v.] 
  1.  To  occupy  or  engage  the  attention  of  to  lose  in  deep 
  thought;  to  absorb;  also  to  distract;  to  bewilder.  [Obs.] 
 
  Camillus  set  upon  the  Gauls  when  they  were  amused  in 
  receiving  their  gold.  --Holland. 
 
  Being  amused  with  grief,  fear,  and  fright,  he  could 
  not  find  the  house.  --Fuller. 
 
  2.  To  entertain  or  occupy  in  a  pleasant  manner;  to  stir  with 
  pleasing  or  mirthful  emotions;  to  divert. 
 
  A  group  of  children  amusing  themselves  with  pushing 
  stones  from  the  top  [of  the  cliff],  and  watching  as 
  they  plunged  into  the  lake.  --Gilpin. 
 
  3.  To  keep  in  expectation;  to  beguile;  to  delude. 
 
  He  amused  his  followers  with  idle  promises. 
  --Johnson. 
 
  Syn:  To  entertain;  gratify;  please;  divert;  beguile;  deceive; 
  occupy. 
 
  Usage:  To  {Amuse},  {Divert},  {Entertain}.  We  are  amused  by 
  that  which  occupies  us  lightly  and  pleasantly.  We  are 
  entertained  by  that  which  brings  our  minds  into 
  agreeable  contact  with  others  as  conversation,  or  a 
  book.  We  are  diverted  by  that  which  turns  off  our 
  thoughts  to  something  of  livelier  interest,  especially 
  of  a  sportive  nature,  as  a  humorous  story,  or  a 
  laughable  incident. 
 
  Whatever  amuses  serves  to  kill  time,  to  lull  the 
  faculties,  and  to  banish  reflection.  Whatever 
  entertains  usually  awakens  the  understanding  or 
  gratifies  the  fancy.  Whatever  diverts  is  lively 
  in  its  nature,  and  sometimes  tumultuous  in  its 
  effects.  --Crabb. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Amuse  \A*muse"\,  v.  i. 
  To  muse;  to  mediate.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  amuse 
  v  1:  occupy  in  an  agreeable,  entertaining  or  pleasant  fashion; 
  "The  play  amused  the  ladies"  [syn:  {divert},  {disport}] 
  2:  make  (somebody)  laugh;  "The  clown  amused  the  children"




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