In reading Plutarch's Life of Sulla, (aka Sylla)as translated by Dryden, Sulla detaches a decoy force to
keep Archelaus occupied while Sulla made preparations for a battle:
"Sylla, after one day's respite, having left Murena behind him with one legion and two cohorts to amuse the enemy with continual alarms, himself went and sacrificed on the banks of Cephisus, and the holy rites ended, held on towards Chaeronea to receive the forces there and view Mount Thurium, where a party of the enemy had posted themselves."
An illustration of how the meaning of "amuse" has changed.