Word Study
amuse
CIDE DICTIONARY
amuse, v. t. [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, (L. ad) + OF. muser. See Muse, v. ].
- To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [1913 Webster]"Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold." [1913 Webster]"Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house." [1913 Webster]
- To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert. [1913 Webster]"A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake." [1913 Webster]
- To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude. [1913 Webster]"He amused his followers with idle promises." [1913 Webster]"Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually awakens the understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.
amuse, v. i.
To muse; to mediate. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
amuse, v.
1 tr. cause (a person) to laugh or smile.
2 tr. & refl. (often foll. by with, by) interest or occupy; keep (a person) entertained.
1 tr. cause (a person) to laugh or smile.
2 tr. & refl. (often foll. by with, by) interest or occupy; keep (a person) entertained.
Derivative
amusing adj. amusingly adv.
Etymology
ME f. OF amuser cause to muse (see MUSE(2)) f. causal a to + muser stare
THESAURUS
amuse
absorb, animate, beguile, charm, cheer, convulse, delight, distract, divert, enchant, engross, enliven, entertain, exhilarate, fascinate, fleet, fracture one, interest, kill, knock dead, loosen up, occupy, please, quicken, raise a laugh, raise a smile, recreate, refresh, regale, relax, slay, solace, tickle, titillate, while, wile, wowROGET THESAURUS
amuse
Pleasurableness
VB cause pleasure, produce pleasure, create pleasure, give pleasure, afford pleasure, procure pleasure, offer pleasure, present pleasure, yield pleasure, please, charm, delight, becharm, imparadise, gladden, take, captivate, fascinate, enchant, entrance, enrapture, transport, bewitch, enravish, bless, beatify, satisfy, gratify, desire, slake, satiate, quench, indulge, humor, flatter, tickle, tickle the palate, regale, refresh, enliven, treat, amuse, take one's fancy, tickle one's fancy, hit one's fancy, meet one's wishes, win the heart, gladden the heart, rejoice the heart, warm the cockles of the heart, do one's heart good, attract, allure, stimulate, interest, make things pleasant, popularize, gild the pill, sugar-coat the pill, sweeten.Amusement
VB amuse, entertain, divert, enliven, tickle the fancy, titillate, raise a smile, put in good humor, cause laughter, create laughter, occasion laughter, raise laughter, excite laughter, produce laughter, convulse with laughter, set the table in a roar, be the death of one, recreate, solace, cheer, rejoice, please, interest, treat, regale, amuse oneself, game, play a game, play pranks, play tricks, sport, disport, toy, wanton, revel, junket, feast, carouse, banquet, make merry, drown care, drive dull care away, frolic, gambol, frisk, romp, caper, dance, keep up the ball, run a rig, sow one's wild oats, have one's fling, take one's pleasure, paint the town red, see life, desipere in loco, play the fool, make holiday, keep holiday, go a Maying, while away the time, beguile the time, kill time, dally, smile, simper, smirk, grin, grin like a Cheshire cat, mock, laugh in one's sleeve, laugh, laugh outright, giggle, titter, snigger, crow, snicker, chuckle, cackle, burst out, burst into a fit of laughter, shout, split, roar, shake one's sides, split one's sides, hold both one's sides, roar with laughter, die with laughter.For further exploring for "amuse" in Webster Dictionary Online
