1. [v]  take into consideration, have in view; "He entertained the notion of moving to South America"
2. [v]  maintain; as of a theory, thoughts, or feelings; "bear a grudge"; "hold a grudge"
3. [v]  provide entertainment for

1. \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Entertained}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Entertaining}.] [F. entretenir; entre between
   (L. inter) + tenir to hold, L. tenere. See {Tenable}.]
   1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service;
      to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
   
   
   
      You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred. --Shak.
   
   2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to
      receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as
      a guest.
   
            Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby
            some have entertained unawares.       --Heb. xiii.
                                                  2.
   
   3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that
      which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to
      entertain friends with conversation, etc.
   
            The weary time she can not entertain. --Shak.
   
   4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive
      and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use
      of; as, to entertain a proposal.
   
            I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as
            the philosophy of Locke.              --De Quincey.
   
            A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was
            entertained by some very sensible people.
                                                  --Hawthorne.
   
   5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] --Shak.
   
   6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep
      in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain
      sentiments.
   
   7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.]
   
            To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the
            services institutions of the holy Jesus. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.
   
   Syn: To amuse; divert; maintain. See {Amuse}.
   
   

2. \En`ter*tain"\, v. i.
   To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
   entertains generously.
   
   

3. \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
   Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser.
   
   

Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7).

The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34).

The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28).

In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)