What is Entertaiment?

Entertaiment is a broad term for any kind of amusement, entertainment, or distraction. It can range from a movie or play chosen for personal enjoyment, to the choice of food and beverage at a restaurant, or to a performance intended for an audience of thousands or even more. The meaning of the word has become strongly associated with amusement, although many entertainments have a more serious purpose as well.

The roots of the word are the prefix inter- and the suffix tenere, from the Indo-European root ten, meaning to stretch or extend. This is appropriate, as entertainment has the ability to be adapted to any scale: from the individual who chooses what to entertain themselves with, to a banquet prepared for two, or even a global entertainment event.