Advertisement

Origin and history of amusement

amusement(n.)

1640s, "diversion of attention," especially in military actions, from French amusement, noun of action from amuser (see 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; the meaning "pleasurable diversion" is attested from 1690s. Amusement hall is by 1862; amusement park is attested by 1897.

also from 1640s

Entries linking to amusement

amuse(v.)

late 15c., "to divert the attention, beguile, delude," from Old French amuser "fool, tease, hoax, entrap; make fun of," literally "cause to muse" (as a distraction), from a "at, to" (from Latin ad, but here probably a causal prefix) + muser "ponder, stare fixedly" (see muse (v.)).

The original English senses are obsolete; the meaning "divert from serious business, tickle the fancy of" is recorded from 1630s, but through 18c. the primary meaning was "deceive, cheat" by first occupying the attention. "The word was not in reg. use bef. 1600, and was not used by Shakespere" [OED]. Bemuse retains more of the original meaning. Greek amousos meant "without Muses," hence "uneducated."

    Advertisement

    More to explore

    pastime
    "amusement, diversion, that which serves to make the time pass agreeably," late 15c., passe tyme "recreation, diversion,...amusement, sport," from pass (v.) + time (n.)....Amusement has the double meaning of being kept from ennui and of finding occasion of mirth .......
    game
    c. 1200, from Old English gamen "joy, fun; game, amusement," common Germanic (cognates: Old Frisian game "joy, glee," Old...Norse gaman "game, sport; pleasure, amusement," Old Saxon gaman, Old High German gaman "sport, merriment," Danish gamen,...
    dilettante
    1733, "an admirer of a fine art, literature, science, etc., one who cultivates an art or literature casually and for amusement...
    tunnel
    The amusement park tunnel of love is attested from 1911 (in reference to New York's Luna Park)....The "Tunnel of Love," an attraction found at many amusement parks, has been responsible for a surprising number of proposals...
    sport
    early 15c., sporte, "pleasant pastime, activity that brings amusement; joking, foolery;" a shortening of disport "activity...that offers amusement or relaxation; entertainment, fun" (c. 1300), also "a pastime or game; flirtation," also pleasure...
    Fescennine
    dialogues, in which the country people assailed and ridiculed one another in extempore verses, and which were introduced as an amusement...
    toreador
    A toreador is, or rather was, a gentleman who killed bulls for his own amusement on horseback and with the spear....
    show
    Middle English sheuen, from Old English sceawian "to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe; inspect, examine; look for, choose," from Proto-Germanic *skauwojanan (source also of Old Saxon skauwon "to look at," Old Frisian skawia, Dutch schouwen, Old High German scouwon "to look at"
    recreation
    late 14c., recreacioun, "refreshment or curing of a person, refreshment by eating," from Old French recreacion (13c.), from Latin recreationem (nominative recreatio) "recovery from illness," noun of action from past participle stem of recreare "to refresh, restore, make anew, rev
    delectation
    mid-14c., delectacioun, "great pleasure, particularly of the senses" (but in Middle English also spiritual and intellectual), from Old French delectation "enjoyment" (12c.) and directly from Latin delectationem (nominative delectatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of

    Share amusement

    Advertisement
    Trending
    Dictionary entries near amusement
    Advertisement