A-mūse'1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. AMUSED; p. pr. & vb. n. AMUSING.] [Fr. amuser, to make stay, to detain, to amuse, from O. Fr. muser, Pr. & O. Sp. muser, It. musare, Eng. muse, to stand idle, to look, act, or think, in a leisurely way, O. H. Ger. mozon, muozon, to be at leisure, moza, muozu, N. H. Ger. musze, idle or vacant time, leisure.]
Sense 1. To occupy or engage wholly; to lose in deep thought; to absorb. [Obs.]
Why art thou amused upon the course of the stars, and searchest into heaven? Holland.
Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the house. Fuller.
People stood amused betwixt these two forms of service. Fuller.
Sense 2. To entertain agreeably; to occupy in a pleasant manner.
A group of children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake. Gilpin.
Sense 3. To keep in expectation; to deceive; to delude.
He amused his followers with idle promises. Johnson.
Synonyms—To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.—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.
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.