amusement

amusement
amusement (n.) c.1600, "diversion of attention," especially in military actions, from Fr. amusement, noun of action from amuser (see AMUSE (Cf. amuse)).
And because all bold and irreverent Speeches touching matters of high nature, and all malicious and false Reports tending to Sedition, or to the Amusement of Our People, are punishable ... (etc.) [Charles II, Proclamation of Oct. 26, 1688]
Meaning "a pastime, play, game, anything which pleasantly diverts the attention" (from duty, work, etc.) is from 1670s, originally depreciative; meaning "pleasurable diversion" attested from 1690s. Amusement hall is from 1862; amusement park first recorded 1897.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • amusement — [ amyzmɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1500; de amuser 1 ♦ Vx Perte de temps; manière d amuser, de tromper. ⇒ diversion, leurre, tromperie. L espérance « n est qu un amusement inutile » (Bossuet). 2 ♦ (XVIIe) Action de distraire, ou de se distraire agréablement. ⇒… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Amusement — is the state of experiencing humorous and usually entertaining events or situations, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. Amusement may also be experienced through the recollection of events which have given rise to …   Wikipedia

  • amusement — AMUSEMENT. s. m. Ce qui amuse, ou qui sert à amuser. Doux amusement. Amusement innocent. Son luth fait son amusement. C est son amusement. Agréable amusement.Amusement, signifie aussi Tromperie, promesses trompeuses. Tout ce que vous me dites là …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • amusement — Amusement. s. m. v. Ce qui amuse, ou qui sert à amuser. Vain amusement. sot amusement. son chien luy sert d amusement. c est mon amusement. agreable amusement …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Amusement — A*muse ment, n. [Cf. F. amusement.] 1. Deep thought; muse. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Here I . . . fell into a strong and deep amusement, revolving in my mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs. Fleetwood. [1913 Webster] 2. The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Amüsement — Amüsement,das:⇨Belustigung(1) Amüsement→Kurzweil …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • amusement — [n1] entertaining, making someone laugh action, ball*, beguilement, cheer, delight, diversion, enjoyment, entertainment, field day*, fun, fun and games*, gladdening, gratification, grins*, high time*, hilarity, hoopla*, laughs*, laughter,… …   New thesaurus

  • amusement — index enjoyment (pleasure), treat Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • amusement — diversion, entertainment, recreation (see under AMUSE vb) Analogous words: engrossment, absorption (see corresponding verbs at MONOPOLIZE): play, sport, *fun, jest: disporting, frolicking, rollicking, romping (see PLAY vb): jollity, *mirth… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • amusement — Amusement, neut. acut. Animi occupatio …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”