amuse

Where does the word "amuse" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin muser, passing through Old French before entering English (1480s).

Amuse’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: muser meant “to stare, ponder.” A Gallo-Roman word possibly from 'musum', muzzle, like a dog sniffing with its nose in the air. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as amuser. Meant to hold someone's attention in order to deceive them. It reached English by 1480s as amuse. The sense 'to deceive' faded, leaving 'to entertain' by the 1600s. Today, amuse means to make someone laugh or smile; to entertain.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient muser "to stare, ponder", a Gallo-Roman word possibly from 'musum', muzzle, like a dog sniffing with its nose in the air.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval amuser "to divert, delude", meant to hold someone's attention in order to deceive them.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1480s amuse "to entertain", the sense 'to deceive' faded, leaving 'to entertain' by the 1600s.