entertain

Where does the word "entertain" come from? It comes from Latin tenere, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Entertain’s story begins in Latin: tenere meant “to hold.” To hold, combined with inter- (among, between). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as intertenere. To hold among, to maintain, from inter- and tenere. From there it passed into Old French as entretenir by medieval. Carried into French for maintaining or amusing someone through conversation. It reached English by 1400s as entertain. Settled as the English word for providing amusement or enjoyment. Today, entertain means to provide amusement or enjoyment for someone, or to host guests.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tenere "to hold", to hold, combined with inter- (among, between).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval intertenere "to hold among, to maintain", to hold among, to maintain, from inter- and tenere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval entretenir "to maintain or amuse someone", carried into French for maintaining or amusing someone through conversation.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s entertain "to provide amusement or enjoyment for someone", settled as the English word for providing amusement or enjoyment.