Entertainment, In Stroud's Judicial Dictionary (4th Edn., Vol. 2, p. 916) the word 'entertainment' has been defined thus:
Entertainment ..... for a public or special occasion ...... is an entertainment in the sense of a gathering of persons for entertainment.
Entertainment (Small Lotteries and Gaming Act, 1956) c. 45, s. 4(1) included a tombola drive alone without accompanying festivities.
The monologue or patter of a comedian, even if delivered at an entertainment provided by an institution whose activities are parly educational, was held to be a variety 'entertainment' within the meaning of the section.
Similarly in Words and Phrases, Judicially Defined (Vol. 2, pp. 206- 207) the word entertainment has been defined thus:
Entertainment is something connected with the enjoyment of refreshment-rooms, tables, and the like. It is something beyond refreshment; it is the accommodation provided, whether that includes a musical or other amusement or not.
Similarly in Words and Phrases (Permanent Edn. Vol. 14A, P. 353) 'entertainment' has been defined thus:
An entertainment is a source or means of amusement; a diverting performance, especially a public performance, as a concert, drama, or the like.
Entertainment denotes that which serves for amusement, and 'amusement' is defined as a pleasureable occupation of the sense, or that which furnishes it, as dancing, sports, or music.
Likewise, in Reader's Digest Family Word Finder at p. 264, 'entertainment' has been defined thus:
Entertainment amusement, diversion, distraction, recreation, fun, play, good time, pastime, novelty; pleasure, enjoyment, satisfaction.
In Webster's Third New International Dictionary the word 'entertainment' has been defined at p. 757 thus:
Entertainment -- the act of diverting amusing, or causing someone's time to pass agreeably.
Something that diverts, amuses, or occupies the attention agreeably.
A public performance designed to divert or amuse.'
Similarly in the Concise English Dictionary by Hayward and Sparkes the word 'entertainment' has been defined thus:
the art of entertaining, amusing or diverting, the pleasure afforded to the mind by anything interesting, amusement, other performance intended to amuse. A perusal of the various shades, aspects forms and implications of the word 'entertainment' as defined in the aforesaid books clearly leads to an irresistible inference that the word entertainment' has been used in a very wide sense so as to include within its ambit, entertainment of any kind including one which may be purely educative. Sub-s. 3 itself by using the word 'entertainment' as 'any exhibitional, performance, amusement, game or sport to which persons are admitted for payment', Geeta Enterprises v. State of U.P., (1983) 4 SCC 202: AIR 1983 SC 1098: (1983) 3 SCR 812.
Ordinarily, 'entertainment' connotes something which may be beneficial for mental or physical well being but is not essential or indispensable for human existence. A bare necessity, like an ordinary meal, is essential or indispensable and, therefore, is not 'entertainment.' If such a bare necessity is offered by another, it is hospitality but not entertainment. Unless the definition of 'entertainment' includes hospitality, the ordinary meaning of 'entertainment' cannot include hospitality, CIT v. Patel Bros. & Co. Ltd., (1995) 4 SCC 485: AIR 1995 SC 1829.
A cinematograph show is 'entertainment' within the meaning of the Act, Liberty Talkies v. State of Gujarat, (1971) 1 SCC 471 (474). [Bombay Entertainments Duty Act, 1923 (1 of 1923), s. 2(a)]
Entertainment includes any exhibition, perfor-mance, amusement, game or sport to which per-sons are ordinarily admitted on payment. [New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (44 of 1994), s. 2(13)]
Entertainment, is wide enough to comprehend in it, the luxury or comfort with which a person entertains himself, State of Karnataka v. Drive-in Enterprises, (2001) 4 SCC 60.