entice

[en-tahys]

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

lure, attract, decoy, tempt.

Antonyms for entice

repel.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for enticingly

Contemporary Examples of enticingly

And perhaps most enticingly, at least to employees I spoke with, the network would be staunchly nonpartisan.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio
Caitlin Dickson
November 23, 2014
It goes beautifully with dark chocolate, making for an enticingly spicy version of hot cocoa.
How Top Chefs Stay Thin
Rachel Syme
December 15, 2009

Historical Examples of enticingly

From the seat, enticingly, she offered him the place beside her.
The Tragic Muse
Henry James
All the chairs in the room were broad and deep and enticingly comfortable.
The Heart of Arethusa
Francis Barton Fox
He played it so enticingly, so temptingly, that it ought to have melted their hearts.
From a Swedish Homestead
Selma Lagerlf
It was so enticingly easy to speak of this rather than of that which he had on his mind.
Mogens and Other Stories
Jens Peter Jacobsen
He was so kind, so enticingly gentle; he had such beautiful eyes.
December Love
Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for enticingly

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 enticingly

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.