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Cater vs Entertain - What's the difference?

cater | entertain |

As a proper noun cater

is .

As a verb entertain is

to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.

As a noun entertain is

(obsolete) ; pleasure.

cater

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To provide food professionally for a special occasion.
    • Did you hire someone to cater our party next week?
  • To provide things to satisfy a person or a need, to serve.
    • I always wanted someone to cater to my every whim.
    Derived terms
    * caterer * cater for * cater to

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A provider; a purveyor; a caterer.

    • Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cut diagonally.
    • (Halliwell)

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The four of cards or dice.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    entertain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
    • to entertain friends with lively conversation
    The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
    • They enjoy entertaining a lot.
  • * Bible, Heb. xiii. 2
    • Be not forgetful to entertain strangers
  • To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
    • The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
    to entertain a proposal
  • * De Quincey
    • I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
  • * Hawthorne
    • A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
  • (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
  • * Shakespeare
    • You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
  • (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • to baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

    Derived terms

    * entertainer * entertaining * entertainment

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) ; pleasure.
  • (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.8:
    • But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […].

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