Entertaiment is a form of recreation that involves using the senses to enjoy something. It is usually a fun activity or event, although many entertainments also have a serious purpose. Examples include ceremonies, festivals, religious celebrations, and satire. It can be adapted to any scale, from an individual who selects personal entertainment from an enormous array of pre-recorded products; to a dinner party adapted for two; to performances intended for thousands. The word derives from the Medieval Latin intertenere, which means “to hold inside.” It is related to the Indo-European root ten, meaning “stretch” or “stretch out.”
Entertainment often hits on points that the human mind was evolved to deeply react to, in order to understand and function in the social world. It is a powerful force that can bring joy, stimulate learning and can have negative impact if not regulated properly.