The word "entertaining" is spelled with the letter "t" after the letter "n" despite the fact that it is not pronounced. This can be explained through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription where the symbol "n" represents a nasal consonant while the symbol "t" represents an aspirated sound. The final "n" is described as being syllabic which means that it carries its own separate syllable. Therefore, "entertaining" is spelled with a silent "t" but with a separate syllabic "n".
Entertaining is an adjective that describes something that is enjoyable, amusing, or engaging, ultimately providing amusement or pleasure to an individual or a group. It refers to activities, events, or performances that captivate and hold the attention of an audience by offering amusement, diversion, or relaxation.
In the context of a social gathering or event, entertaining can involve various forms of entertainment such as music, dancing, games, or any other activities that engage people and keep them entertained. It is often aimed at creating a positive and enjoyable atmosphere where guests can have a good time and escape from the routine of everyday life.
Entertaining can also refer to a particular talent or skill to captivate and amuse others, often involving the use of humor, storytelling, or other means of engaging an audience. Comedians, actors, magicians, and other performers are known for their entertaining abilities in captivating audiences and providing enjoyment through their acts or presentations.
Additionally, entertaining can refer to any form of media or content created specifically to amuse or engage an audience, such as books, movies, television shows, or online videos. These forms of entertainment are designed to elicit emotional responses, stimulate laughter, provoke thought, or provide escapism from reality.
Overall, entertaining describes anything that is designed or intended to amuse, captivate, or engage an audience, bringing joy and pleasure to the individuals involved in the experience.
Pleasing; amusing; diverting.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "entertaining" has its etymology from the Old French verb "entretenir", meaning "to hold or keep together". This compound word is formed by combining the prefix "entre-" (meaning "between" or "among") with the verb "tenir" (meaning "to hold" or "to keep"). Initially, the word "entertaining" was used to describe the action of maintaining or occupying someone's attention. Over time, it evolved to encompass the idea of providing amusement, pleasure, or diversion to an audience or guests.