Amuse

Amuse
Amuse A*muse" ([.a]*m[=u]z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Amused} ([.a]*m[=u]zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Amusing}.] [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, [`a] (L. ad) + OF. muser. See {Muse}, v.] 1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their gold. --Holland. [1913 Webster]

Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

2. 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. --Gilpin. [1913 Webster]

3. To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude. [1913 Webster]

He amused his followers with idle promises. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.

Usage: To {Amuse}, {Divert}, {Entertain}. We are amused by that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a laughable incident. [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. --Crabb. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • amusé — amusé, ée (a mu zé, zée) part. passé. Amusé par des promesses. Amusé à des bagatelles. Amusé par ce récit. •   En lui [le prince], toute apparence de galanterie, tout air passionné ou amusé cause un scandale, FÉN. t. XXII, p. 272 …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • amuse — amuse, divert, entertain, recreate mean to cause or enable one to pass one’s time in pleasant or agreeable occupations. Their corresponding nouns amusement, diversion, entertainment, recreation are also synonyms denoting such an occupation or its …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • amuse — amuse; amuse·ment; …   English syllables

  • amuse — [ə myo͞oz′] vt. amused, amusing [Fr amuser < à, at + OFr muser, to stare fixedly, MUSE] 1. to keep pleasantly or enjoyably occupied or interested; entertain [we amused ourselves with games] 2. to make laugh, smile, etc. by being comical or… …   English World dictionary

  • Amuse — A*muse , v. i. To muse; to mediate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • amuse — index occupy (engage) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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