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ard up, closely pressed by want or necessity; without money or resources; as, hard up for amusements. [Slang]

A day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement and gayety; a festival day. And young and old come forth to play On a sunshine holiday. Milton.

Alluring; tempting; as, an inviting amusement or prospect. Nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm. W. Irving. -- In*vit"ing*ly, adv. -- In*vit"ing*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.

Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest, v. i. I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. Shak. The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.…

To play tricks by sleight of hand; to cause amusement and sport by tricks of skill; to conjure.

lination; desire; pleasure; preference; -- often with for, formerly with to; as, it is an amusement I have no liking for. If the human intellect hath once taken a liking to any doctrine, . . . it draws everything else into harmony with that doctrine, and to its support. Bacon.

Inclined to wild sports; delighting in rash, absurd, or dangerous amusements. "The merry madcap

Any revolving contrivance for affording amusement; esp., a ring of flying hobbyhorses.

To a great degree; very much. Practical jokes amused us mightily. Hawthorne.

of instrumental musicians performing in a theater, concert hall, or other place of public amusement.

That which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably; sport; amusement; diversion.

To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot. As Cannace was playing in her walk. Chaucer. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play! Pope. And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword. Keble.…

One who plays, or amuses himself; one without serious aims; an idler; a trifler. Shak.

A companion in amusements or sports; a playmate. Shak.

A thing to play with; a toy; anything that serves to amuse. A child knows his nurse, and by degrees the playthings of a little more advanced age. Locke.

Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." Milton. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man. Prov. xxi. 17. Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. iii…

inable by the many; hence, cheap; common; ordinary; inferior; as, popular prices; popular amusements. The smallest figs, called popular figs, . . . are, of all others, the basest and of least account. Holland.

To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano. practise

specially, to refresh after wearying toil or anxiety; to relieve; to cheer; to divert; to amuse; to gratify. Painters, when they work on white grounds, place before them colors mixed with blue and green, to recreate their eyes, white wearying . . . the sight more than any. Dryden. St. John, who recreated himself with s…

ing, or the state of being recreated; refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil; amusement; diversion; sport; pastime.