Catalan edit

Etymology edit

From entre +‎ tenir.

Pronunciation edit

Verb edit

entretenir (first-person singular present entretinc, first-person singular preterite entretinguí, past participle entretingut); root stress: (Central, Valencian, Balearic) /e/

  1. to delay, hold up
    Synonym: retenir
  2. to entertain
    Synonyms: divertir, distreure
  3. (takes a reflexive pronoun) to waste time, to dawdle
  4. (takes a reflexive pronoun) to be delayed
    Synonym: retardar-se
  5. (takes a reflexive pronoun) to amuse oneself
    Synonym: distreure's

Conjugation edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

French edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir; equivalent to entre + tenir.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.tʁə.t(ə).niʁ/
  • (file)

Verb edit

entretenir

  1. (transitive) to maintain, to look after
    Le Canada entretient une relation de premier plan avec les États-Unis, pays avec lequel il partage la plus longue frontière non défendue du monde.
    Canada maintains a high-profile relationship with the United States, a country with which it shares the longest undefended border in the world.
  2. (transitive) to support (e.g a family)
  3. (transitive, figuratively) to fuel, to keep something going
  4. (reflexive) to have a discussion (with someone)
  5. (reflexive) to keep fit

Conjugation edit

This is a verb in a group of -ir verbs. All verbs ending in -tenir, such as contenir and détenir, are conjugated this way. Such verbs are the only verbs whose the past historic and subjunctive imperfect endings do not start in one of these thematic vowels (-a-, -i-, -u-).

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Middle French edit

Etymology edit

From Old French entretenir.

Verb edit

entretenir

  1. (transitive) to maintain; to look after

Descendants edit

  • English: entertain
  • French: entretenir

Old French edit

Etymology edit

entre + tenir.

Verb edit

entretenir

  1. (reflexive, s'entretenir) to support one another

Conjugation edit

This verb conjugates as a third-group verb. This verb has a stressed present stem entretien distinct from the unstressed stem entreten, as well as other irregularities. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Descendants edit