a feeling
more active and vehement, but often less enduring and determined, than
_enmity_. _Enmity_ distinctly recognizes its object as an enemy, to be
met or dealt with accordingly. _Hostility_ is _enmity_ in action; the
term _hostilities_ between nations denotes actual armed collision.
_Bitterness_ is a resentful feeling arising from a belief that one has
been wronged; _acrimony_ is a kindred feeling, but deeper and more
persistent, and may arise from the crossing of one's wishes or plans by
another, where no injustice or wrong is felt. _Antagonism_, as between
two competing authors or merchants, does not necessarily imply _enmity_,
but ordinarily suggests a shade, at least, of hostile feeling. _Malice_
is a disposition or intent to injure others, for the gratification of
some evil passion; _malignity_ is intense and violent _enmity_,
_hatred_, or _malice_. Compare synonyms for ACRIMONY; ANGER; HATRED.

Antonyms:

agreement, amity, friendship, kindliness, regard,
alliance, concord, harmony, kindness, sympathy.

* * * * *

ENTERTAIN.

Synonyms:

amuse, cheer, disport, enliven, interest, please,
beguile, delight, divert, gratify, occupy, recreate.

To _entertain_, in the sense here considered, is to engage and
pleasantly occupy the attention; to _amuse_ is to occupy the attention
in an especially bright and cheerful way, often with that which excites
merriment or laughter; as, he _entertained_ us with an _amusing_ story.
To _divert_ is to turn from serious thoughts or laborious pursuits to
something that lightly and agreeably occupies the mind; one may be
_entertained_ or _amused_ who has nothing serious or laborious from
which to be _diverted_. To _recreate_, literally to re-create, is to
engage mind or body in some pleasing activity that restores strength and
energy for serious work. To _beguile_ is, as it were, to cheat into
cheer and comfort by something that insensibly draws thought or feeling
away from pain or disquiet. We _beguile_ a weary hour, _cheer_ the
despondent, _divert_ the preoccupied, _enliven_ a dull evening or
company, _gratify_ our friends' wishes, _entertain_, _interest_,
_please_ a listening audience, _occupy_ idle time, _disport_ ourselves
when merry, _recreate_ when worn with toil; we _amuse_ ourselves or
others with whatever pleasantly passes the time without special
exertion, each according to his taste.

Anto