Obs. Also (–7 entertaine, 6 -ayne, 7 intertaine. [f. next: cf. Fr. entretien.] = ENTERTAINMENT.
1. a. Pleasure; delight. b. An amusement, a merry-making.
1601. Weever, Mirr. Mart., E iiij b. On whose [a river’s] prowde banke such entertaine I had.
1638–48. G. Daniel, Eclog., III. 30. Rurall entertains Had noe ill-meanings.
1669. Address to Hopeful Young Gentry England, Ep. Ded. A viij. We are allow’d our Masquerades, and longer festivous entertains of a Carnival.
1678. Sir T. Browne, Lett., Wks. 1852, III. 448. Intending to live in Surrey House…; and there to make his entertaines; so that he contrives what pictures to lend, [etc.].
2. Conversation; social behavior.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 11. With most obsequious sleek-browed intertain They all embrace it as most gratious.
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus. xlii. 12. To restraine A wife Immodest in her entertaine.
3. The reception of a guest; also, the treatment of a person as a guest.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1085. Who … Receyued them with chearefull entertayne.
1605. Heywood, If you know not me, Wks. 1874, I. 202. Those plausive shouts, which giue you entertaine.
1608. Shaks., Per., I. i. 119, A iij b. Your entertaine shall bee As doth befit our honour and your worth.
1640. T. Carew, Poems, My Mistr. Commanding me to Return Lett., 15. Tell your Soveraigne … I gave you courteous entertaine.
1651. trans. De-las-Coveras’ Don Fenise, 50. I thought to enjoy the deare entertaine of Hipolite.
b. A meal; esp. a formal or elegant meal; a feast, banquet. Cf. ENTERTAINMENT 11 c.
1632. Heywood, 1st Pt. Iron Age, III. i. Wks. 1874, III. 302. All welcome to this peacefull intertaine.
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus. xlii. 40. Abstaine To meet with Woemen at an Entertaine.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Misc. Tracts (1684), 203. The dismal Supper and strange Entertain of the Senatours.
1686. Oldham, Art Poetry, 30. Ill Music … is what the entertain might spare.
4. Reception into the mind; acceptance.
1616. R. Niccols, Overbury’s Vis., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 357. My counsel might find entertain With those, whose souls [etc.].
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. iv. 237. Sathan appeared … with a Virgins head, that thereby … his temptation might finde the easier entertaine.
