intrigue, interest

intrigue, interest
Each of these words means "to cause to become involved with," "to arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of: "Your plan interests me." "Your plan intrigues me." However, some experts object to the use of intrigue for interest on the ground that it suggests an often-unwarranted sense of mystery and suspense. One should use interest unless a suggestion of drama, secretiveness, or underhandedness in involved. A love story interests; a suspense story intrigues.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • interest — See intrigue. See intrigue, interest …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • intrigue — See intrigue, interest …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • intrigue — [n1] scheme artifice, cabal, chicanery, collusion, complication, conspiracy, contrivance, deal, design, dodge, double dealing*, fix, frame up*, fraud, game, graft, hookup, little game*, machination, maneuver, manipulation, plan, plot, ruse,… …   New thesaurus

  • intrigue — verb. 1. The inflected forms are intrigued, intriguing. 2. The predominant current meaning is ‘to arouse the curiosity of; to fascinate’. When Fowler wrote (1926) this was a fairly new sense (first attested in the 1890s) and the need for what he… …   Modern English usage

  • interest — [n1] attraction, curiosity absorption, activity, affection, attentiveness, care, case, concern, concernment, consequence, diversion, engrossment, enthusiasm, excitement, game, hobby, importance, interestedness, into, leisure activity, matter,… …   New thesaurus

  • intrigue — ► VERB (intrigues, intrigued, intriguing) 1) arouse the curiosity or interest of. 2) plot something illicit or harmful. ► NOUN 1) the plotting of something illicit or harmful. 2) a secret love affair …   English terms dictionary

  • intrigue — [in trēg′; ] for n., also [ in′trēg΄] vi. intrigued, intriguing [Fr intriguer < It intrigare < L intricare: see INTRICATE] 1. to carry on a secret love affair 2. to plot or scheme secretly or underhandedly vt. 1. to bring on or get by… …   English World dictionary

  • intrigue — 1. verb her answer intrigued him Syn: interest, be of interest to, fascinate, arouse someone s curiosity, arouse someone s interest, pique someone s curiosity, pique someone s interest, attract 2. noun 1) political intrigue Syn: secret plan,… …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • interest — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. concern; touch, affect; fascinate, engross, intrigue; hold [the attention], engage, absorb. See excitement. n. concern; welfare, benefit; payment, sum, advantage, profit; part, share, holding; claim,… …   English dictionary for students

  • intrigue — intriguer, n. intriguingly, adv. v. /in treeg /; n. /in treeg , in treeg/, v., intrigued, intriguing, n. v.t. 1. to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities; appeal strongly to;… …   Universalium

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