Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
Anything which diverts one from serious matters; a game, a pastime, a sport.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Amusement, entertainment, recreation, relaxation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The way one carries oneself; bearing, carriage, deportment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Bearing, elevation, orientation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Fun, gaiety, joy, merriment, mirth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To amuse oneself divertingly or playfully; in particular, to cavort or gambol.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive, dated, reflexive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: cheer, divert, enjoy, frolic
Antonyms: none provided
verb
play boisterously
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: frolic, lark, rollick, skylark, sport, cavort, gambol, frisk, romp, run around, lark about
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: play
verb
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: amuse, divert
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: entertain
History
The verb is derived from Middle English disporten, desporten (“to take part in entertainment, sport, etc., to pass time, amuse oneself, be merry; to amuse, entertain; to cheer, console; to behave (in a particular way), deport; to be active, to busy; to relieve (someone of a task); to prevent (someone from attending)”), from Anglo-Norman desporter, Old French desporter, deporter, depporter (“to amuse, entertain; to pass time, amuse oneself; to forbear; to stop”), from Latin deportāre, present active infinitive of dēportō (“to bring, convey; to bring or take home; to carry along or down; to banish, transport”), from dē- (prefix meaning ‘from, off’) + portō (“to bear, carry; to bring, convey”) (from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to carry forth; fare”)). The English word is a doublet of deport and sport. The noun is derived from Middle English disport, desport (“activity providing amusement, pleasure or relaxation; entertainment, recreation; game, pastime, sport; pleasure derived from an activity; source of comfort; consolation, solace; conduct, deportment; customary behaviour, manner; act, activity; departure”), from Anglo-Norman disport, Old French desport, deport (“game, pastime, sport; pleasure, recreation; disport”), from desporter: see further above.
Across languages
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
