ENTERTA'INMENT, noun The receiving and accommodating of guests, either with or without reward. The hospitable man delights in the entertainment of his friends. 1. Provisions of the table; hence also, a feast; a superb dinner or supper. 2. The amusement, pleasure or instruction, derived from conversation, discourse, argument, oratory, music, dramatic performances, etc.; the pleasure which the mind receives from any thing interesting, and which holds or arrests the attention. We often have rich entertainment in the conversation of a learned friend. 3. Reception; admission. 4. The state of being in pay or service. [Not used.] 5. Payment of those retained in service. 6. That which entertains; that which serves for amusement; the lower comedy; farce.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI