intrigue
[verb in-treeg; noun in-treeg, in-treeg]
- to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities; appeal strongly to; captivate: The plan intrigues me, but I wonder if it will work.
- to achieve or earn by appealing to another's curiosity, fancy, or interest: to intrigue one's way into another's notice.
- to draw or capture: Her interest was intrigued by the strange symbol.
- to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations.
- Obsolete. to entangle.
- Obsolete. to trick or cheat.
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- to plot craftily or underhandedly.
- to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.
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- the use of underhand machinations or deceitful stratagems.
- such a machination or stratagem or a series of them; a plot or crafty dealing: political intrigues.
- a secret or illicit love affair.
- the series of complications forming the plot of a play.
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Origin of intrigue
Synonyms
See more synonyms for intrigue on Thesaurus.com1. interest, attract, fascinate. 7. manipulate. 9, 10. manipulation.
Synonym study
10. See conspiracy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for intrigue
Contemporary Examples
On another, more macro level, did you find Europe to be such a cesspool of intrigue?
How The Cold War Endgame Played Out In The Rubble Of The Berlin WallWilliam O’Connor
November 9, 2014
India really does intrigue against Pakistan in the same way Pakistan plots against India.
The extra layer of intrigue alluded to in that statement is that the WWE itself is an international brand.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt This story has it all: love, betrayal, secrecy, and intrigue.
Real-Life Couples on Screen: Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, Brangelina, and MoreAmy Zimmerman
May 1, 2014
For locals in Buenos Aires (called Porteños), the intrigue of the infamous green spirit dates back over a hundred years.
Historical Examples
Like an ancient Greek, his spirit loved intrigue for intrigue's sake.
Alice, or The Mysteries, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
Was it not possible that Lorenzi might be a party to the intrigue?
Casanova's HomecomingArthur Schnitzler
What was that story about his intrigue with a married lady—Lady who was it?
The Tenant of Wildfell HallAnne Bronte
I mean to say, as food it was noncommittal; it failed to intrigue.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
Comedy of intrigue and comedy of character lead to no real catastrophe.
The American MindBliss Perry
intrigue
- (tr) to make interested or curiousI'm intrigued by this case, Watson
- (intr) to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire
- (intr often foll by with) to carry on a clandestine love affair
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- the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc
- a clandestine love affair
- the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement
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Word Origin
C17: from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre; see intricate
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 intrigue
v.
1610s, "to trick, deceive, cheat" (earlier entriken, late 14c.), from French intriguer (16c.), from Italian intrigare "to plot, meddle," from Latin intricare "entangle" (see intricate). Meaning "to plot or scheme" first recorded 1714; that of "to excite curiosity" is from 1894. Related: Intrigued; intriguing (1680s, "plotting, scheming;" meaning "exciting curiosity" is from 1909).
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n.
1640s, probably from intrigue (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper