Article: Entertaiment
From the Latin inter tenere, to hold inside. The prefix “inter” denotes interior, and the suffix -tenere implies stretching something; it’s an apt definition for entertainment. The word entertains the idea of entertaining others, but it can also refer to anything affording pleasure or diversion or amusement: solving a crossword puzzle; going to a ball; watching a film.
The familiar forms of entertainment have proven remarkably resilient and adaptable, from the individual who chooses his or her own private entertainment through a variety of pre-recorded products; to banquets that accommodate two or more, to performances intended for thousands.