The Etymology of Entertaiment
The etymology of entertaiment has roots in the Medieval Latin intertenere and the Indo-European root ten. The prefix inter means “inside,” and the suffix ten means to hold, or stretch. Those are appropriate derivations for a word that is used to describe something that holds the attention or interest of a person or group. What is considered entertainment by one group or individual may be regarded as a form of work or below human dignity by another. The familiar forms of entertainment have demonstrated the ability to cross over different media, ensuring that these themes and images can be reused in new contexts.