‘So come on let me entertain you...’ #WordsmithWednesday

img

Entertain. Now that’s an interesting word.

I know when we use it nowadays we broadly think of amusement, hospitality, an agreeable diversion, a bit of fun, a good show etc.

But you might be a little surprised to know that what it REALLY means is to admit something into the mind, that stays there and keeps it occupied.

Hence the expression ‘to entertain an idea’.

It comes to us from the old French word ‘entretenir’ which in itself was a combination of the words ‘entre’, which means ‘together’, and the Latin ‘tenere’ which means ‘to hold’.

Did you also know that the word ‘bemused’ has nothing to do with being ‘amused’, but actually means to be ‘bewildered’?

And that if something is ‘terrific’, it actually means it is ‘horrific’?

So, the next time you hear Mr Robbie Williams singing ‘let me entertain you...’ on the radio and someone tells you they think he (or the song) is terrific...you can now give them a bemused look and then smile to yourself knowing you probably know something about the meaning of words that they don’t!