GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Interest , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interested ; p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting.] [From interess'd, p. p. of the older form interess, fr. F. intéresser, L. interesse. See Interest, n.]
   1913 Webster
   To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work.
   1913 Webster
   To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men.
   Dryden.
   
   1913 Webster
   A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages.
   Addison.
   
   1913 Webster
   To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster
   Or rather, gracious sir,
   Create me to this glory, since my cause
   Doth interest this fair quarrel.
   Ford.
   
   1913 Webster
   To cause or permit to share. [Obs.]
   1913 Webster
   The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands.
   Hooker.
   Syn. -- To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   Interest, n. [OF. interest, F. intérêt, fr. L. interest it interests, is of interest, fr. interesse to be between, to be difference, to be importance; inter between + esse to be; cf. LL. interesse usury. See Essence.]
   1913 Webster
   Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a topic or engage often in an activity.
   1913 Webster
   +PJC
   ☞ Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting.
   1913 Webster
   So much interest have I in thy sorrow.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   (Finance, Commerce) Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.
   1913 Webster
   Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.
   1913 Webster
   Divisions hinder the common interest and public good.
   Sir W. Temple.
   
   1913 Webster
   When interest calls of all her sneaking train.
   Pope.
   
   1913 Webster
   (Finance) A fee paid for the use of money; a fee paid for a loan; -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars.
   1913 Webster
   They have told their money, and let out
   Their coin upon large interest.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
   1913 Webster
   You shall have your desires with interest.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.
   1913 Webster
   Compound interest, interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due. -- Simple interest, interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest.
   1913 Webster