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Antonyms for amuse

Grammar : Verb
Spell : uh-myooz
Phonetic Transcription : əˈmyuz

Definition of amuse

Origin :
  • late 15c., "to divert the attention, beguile, delude," from Middle French amuser "divert, cause to muse," from a "at, to" (but here probably a causal prefix) + muser "ponder, stare fixedly" (see muse (v.)). Sense of "divert from serious business, tickle the fancy of" is recorded from 1630s, but through 18c. the primary meaning was "deceive, cheat" by first occupying the attention. Bemuse retains more of the original meaning. Related: Amused; amusing.
  • verb entertain; make laugh
Example sentences :
  • Novels are taken up to amuse the vacant hour—in this consists their use.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • This Mr. Fleurant and Mr. Purgon amuse themselves finely with your body.
  • Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
  • This was not a great sorrow for Rico,—he knew how to amuse himself.
  • Extract from : « Rico and Wiseli » by Johanna Spyri
  • We amuse him more than the hackneyed comrades he has worn out.
  • Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • I must now amuse and put her off—at all events for the present.
  • Extract from : « Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • And Prada, diverted by the meeting, whispered to Pierre: "Wait a bit, he'll amuse us."
  • Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola
  • It was only natural that a woman should want to amuse herself.
  • Extract from : « The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete » by Emile Zola
  • This appeared to amuse Alice, or at least to please her, for she laughed.
  • Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington
  • We do not desire, I believe, to amuse the grooms and hostlers in the yard with our music.
  • Extract from : « The Room in the Dragon Volant » by J. Sheridan LeFanu
  • I wonder what Albert can find to amuse him there; I fear no good.
  • Extract from : « Vivian Grey » by Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli

Synonyms for amuse

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019