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