Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EN-TER-TAIN'MENT, n.

1. The receiving and accommodating of guests, either with or without reward. The hospitable man delights in the entertainment of his friends.
2. Provisions of the table; hence also, a feast; a superb dinner or supper.
3. The amusement, pleasure or instruction, derived from conversation, discourse, argument, oratory, music, dramatic performances, &c; the pleasure which the mind receives from any thing interesting, and which holds or arrests the attention. We often have rich entertainment, in the conversation of a learned friend.
4. Reception; admission. Tillotson.
5. The state of being in pay or service. [Not used.] Shak.
6. Payment of those retained in service. [Obs.] Davies.
7. That which entertains; that which serves for amusement; the lower comedy; farce. Gay.