A pleasing occupation for the mind; a diversion or amusement: The puzzles of the daily crossword are entertainment for many. The highlight of a ball or party is an entertainment.
The word entertain derives from the Medieval Latin intertenere, which means “to hold inside.” It is also related to ten, the Indo-European root of the verb to stretch or extend, as in to “stretch a garment.”
Entertaiment can be personal and individualized, such as reading or playing games; it can involve participation in group activities such as sports and music; or it can be passive, as in a movie or television show. It can inspire creativity, as in the Scheherazade story, which inspired composers Rimsky-Korsakov and Ravel to write orchestral works, director Pasolini to make a film adaptation, and game designers to create innovative video games.