The clown at a kid’s birthday party, the Broadway show, the stadium rock concert—whatever it is that amuses, diverts, or distracts us, we call Entertainment. This is no accident: the word derives from entretenir, a root that means to hold inside or support. It was once closely associated with hospitality, and today we think of entertainment as a form of amusement—though it often has serious intentions, too, such as the social commentary in satire or the religious festival or ceremonial event that entertains for spiritual growth.

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