Article by: Merriam-Webster

Entertaiment, derived from the Latin intertenere (to hold inside), has long been associated with hospitality, as in entertaining guests. It later took on its modern sense of amusement, diverting, or occupying the mind: From a clown at a birthday party to a Broadway show to a stadium rock concert to your friends fighting over that last potato chip, entertainment comes in many forms. But whether it’s a distraction or a diversion, it must be pleasant and not harmful to others.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Copyright 2023 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Learn more about Merriam-Webster’s Terms of Use.