amusement

[Eng. amuse; -ment. In Fr. amusement.] *1. Subjectively: An occupation of the attention; the state of being in a reverie. "Here I put my pen into the ink-horn, and fell into a strong and deep amusement , revolving in my mind with great perplexity the amazing changes of our affairs."-Fleet wood: Pref. to Lay Baptism . 2. Objectively: Whatever is fitted to engage the attention; to divert it from other objects of contemplation; to inspire it with pleasing and even mirthful emotions, or to delude it with vain expectations. "In a just way it is lawful to deceive the august enemy, but not to lie; that is, by stratagems and semblances of motions, by amusements and intrigues of actions, by ambushes and wit, by simulation and di imulation." -Jeremy Taylor: Ductor Dubitantium , bk. iii., c. 2. his favourite amusements were architecture and gardening."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. xí.