entreter

Entreter is a Portuguese verb meaning to entertain, amuse, or provide diversion, and to occupy someone’s attention through activities, performances, or conversation. It can also mean to delay or to keep someone occupied in a broader sense. The reflexive form, entreter-se, can indicate amusing oneself or passing time, as in enjoying a pastime or occupying one’s attention with a task or distraction.

Etymology and sense evolution: The term derives from the prefix entre- (between) combined with a form of ter/tenir (to hold). It entered Portuguese through Old French entretenir, which carried senses such as to maintain or to support, and in Portuguese it acquired the broader meanings of captivating, distracting, or amusing a person or audience. Today, entreter is commonly linked to activities intended to please or engage others.

Usage and context: In contemporary Portuguese, entreter is primarily transitive: entreter alguém (to entertain someone), entreter o público (to entertain the audience). It is often associated with arts, media, and leisure activities, including shows, games, humor, and storytelling. The noun entretimento or entretenimento (entertainment) is widely used to refer to the broader concept of amusement or diversion. The reflexive form, entreter-se, describes self-entertainment or occupying oneself, for example with reading or hobbies, and can also imply delaying or passing time in a non-productive way depending on context.

See also: Entretenimento, Diversão, Entretenimento cultural, Entretenimento infantil.