entertain

Where it comes from

Entertain ordinarily means to amuse someone; also to consider an idea as possible. Entertain came from French entretenir, formed from entre, among or between, and tenir, to hold. The French verb meant to hold together, maintain, support, or keep up before English developed its familiar amusement sense. To maintain a person included receiving and providing for a guest; to hold someone's attention or keep someone in a state became engaging or amusing them.

How the meaning developed

The older maintenance sense survives when people entertain an idea or diplomatic relations.

In use

“Entertain” usually suggests amusement. It can also mean considering an idea as a possibility.
The older family was about holding and maintaining.