Article by: Merriam-Webster

Entertaiment is a word that has become the focus of many popular media, but what exactly is it? And how did this word come to be in such widespread use today?

We compiled these examples from multiple online sources to illustrate current usage of the term, and we welcome your feedback.

A suffix inserted into verb stems to form nouns of a feeling or state of being (amazement, betterment, merriment). It derives from Old French entretenir “to support, keep together” (from Latin inter-) + tenir (“to hold”; from PIE root *tener-). This suffix is also used with a variety of other English verb stems to make abstract nouns, such as enlightenment, enrichment, and amusement. See also entertain, entertain, and entrainment.