a pleasurable or agreeable occupation, diversion, or amusement: solving the daily crossword is an entertainment for many people. Something providing enjoyment or amusement, or a source of it: a restaurant that provides entertainment, food and drink. A means of diverting attention: an ad on the radio or TV that is intended to entertain.
Entertaiment comes from the Latin inter tenere, which combines the prefix inter meaning ‘inside’ and the suffix tenere meaning ‘hold inside.’ It hints at how the activities that entertain us can be tailored to fit any scale, from an individual choosing a private entertainment from a huge array of pre-recorded products; to a banquet adapted for two; to performances intended for thousands or even for a global audience.