entice

English

Etymology

From Middle English enticen, from Old French enticier (“to stir up or excite”), from a Vulgar Latin *intitiāre (“I set on fire”), from in- +‎ titiō (“firebrand (tool)”), from Proto-Italic *tītjō (“heating”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *teih₁- (“to become hot, melt or to end”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈtaɪs/

• Audio (CA)

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• Rhymes: -aɪs

Verb

entice (third-person singular simple present entices, present participle enticing, simple past and past participle enticed)

1. (transitive) To lure; to attract by arousing desire or hope.
   • 2012 March, Brian Hayes, “Pixels or Perish”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 19 February 2013, page 106:

     Blackboard sketches, geological maps, diagrams of molecular structure, astronomical photographs, MRI images, the many varieties of statistical charts and graphs: These pictorial devices are indispensable tools for presenting evidence, for explaining a theory, for telling a story. And, on top of all that, they are ornaments; they entice and intrigue and sometimes delight.

   I enticed the little bear into the trap with a pot of honey.

Related terms

• enticement
• enticing

Translations

See also

• beguile
• tempt
• seduce

References

• “entice”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “entice”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• encite