What constitutes entertainment for one individual or group can differ greatly. Activities once used for war or hunting, for example, may develop into spectator sports; and a story that is considered entertainment in the Persian professional storytelling tradition of Scheherazade might inspire music by composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Ravel, or Szymanowski; a film directed by Pasolini; or an innovative video game.
The word ‘entertainment’ derives from the Latin intertenere, combining the prefix ‘inside’ with the suffix ‘to hold inside.’ Merriam-Webster offers the following examples to demonstrate how entertainment evolves, ranging from an individual choosing entertainment products available in a store to a banquet adapted for two or to thousands and even a global audience.