entice

[en-tahys]

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verb (used with object), en·ticed, en·tic·ing.

to lead on by exciting hope or desire; allure; inveigle: They were enticed westward by dreams of gold.

Origin of entice

1250–1300; Middle English enticen < Old French enticier to incite < Vulgar Latin *intitiāre, equivalent to Latin in- in-² + -titiāre, verbal derivative of *titius, for titiō piece of burning wood

Related formsen·tic·ing·ly, adverben·tic·ing·ness, nounnon·en·tic·ing, adjectivenon·en·tic·ing·ly, adverbun·en·ticed, adjectiveun·en·tic·ing, adjective

Synonyms for entice

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lure, attract, decoy, tempt.

Antonyms for entice

repel.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for enticed

coax, seduce, beguile, cajole, tempt, attract, lure, wheedle, bait, decoy, draw, inveigle, toll, entrap

Examples from the Web for enticed

Contemporary Examples of enticed

In the past, the international community has enticed the Kim regime to negotiate by giving up-front concessions.
Should Obama Take North Korea’s Bait?
Gordon G. Chang
October 21, 2014
They enticed Yanukovych into an economic deal that would have gradually diminished Russian influence in Ukraine.
Cut the Baloney on Ukraine
Leslie H. Gelb
March 9, 2014
The area, which once hosted a large lake, had an attractive climate that enticed herbivores and then carnivores.
294 Dinosaurs Once Walked on This Wall in Bolivia
Nina Strochlic
October 24, 2013
Joanna Angel, owner of Burning Angel, knows that consumers need to be enticed.
Free Porn Is Threatening the Adult Industry. Here Are Five Ways to Save It.
Aurora Snow
September 9, 2013
So far, the effort is underfunded and hasn't yet enticed China and India.
Hillary Clinton’s Plan to Get Serious About Global Warming
David G. Victor, Charles F. Kennel, Veerabhadran Ramanathan
June 21, 2012

Historical Examples of enticed

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
But once enticed into the parlour he did not reject the food set before him.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
Three were enticed on board the ship, and were shut up in the cabin.
King Philip
John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
So my father was enticed back to Italy in the interests of the next of kin.
The Eternal City
Hall Caine
Dic is a true, pure man, who has been enticed into error and suffers for it.
A Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the Thirties
Charles Major

British Dictionary definitions for enticed

entice

verb

(tr) to attract or draw towards oneself by exciting hope or desire; tempt; allure

Derived Formsenticement, nounenticer, nounenticing, adjectiveenticingly, adverbenticingness, noun

Word Origin for entice

C13: from Old French enticier, from Vulgar Latin intitiāre (unattested) to incite, from Latin titiō firebrand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for enticed

entice

late 13c., intice, from Old French enticier "to stir up (fire), to excite, incite," perhaps from Vulgar Latin *intitiare "set on fire," from Latin in- "in" (see in- (2)) + titio (genitive titionis) "firebrand," of uncertain origin. Meaning "to allure, attract" is from c.1300. Related: Enticed; enticing.