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.
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A group of children amusing themselves with pushing
stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as
they plunged into the lake. --Gilpin.
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3. To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
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He amused his followers with idle promises.
--Johnson.
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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 v.0.48
Amusing \A*mus"ing\, a.
Giving amusement; diverting; as, an amusing story. --
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
amusing
adj 1: providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining; "an amusing
speaker"; "a diverting story"; "a fun thing to do"
[syn: amusive, diverting, fun(a)]
2: arousing or provoking laughter; "an amusing film with a
steady stream of pranks and pratfalls"; "an amusing
fellow"; "a comic hat"; "a comical look of surprise";
"funny stories that made everybody laugh"; "a very funny
writer"; "it would have been laughable if it hadn't hurt
so much"; "a mirthful experience"; "risible courtroom
antics" [syn: comic, comical, funny, laughable, mirthful,
risible]
WordNet (r) 2.0
27 Moby Thesaurus words for "amusing":
absurd, beguiling, bizarre, delightful, diverting, droll,
eccentric, entertaining, fun, funny, hilarious, humorous,
incongruous, laughable, ludicrous, priceless, quaint, quizzical,
recreational, rich, ridiculous, risible, screaming, titillating,
titillative, whimsical, witty
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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