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intrigue

[verb in-treeg; noun in-treeg, in-treeg]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intrigue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

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.

verb (used without object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

to plot craftily or underhandedly.

to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.

noun

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.

Origin of intrigue

1640–50; < French intriguer < Italian intrigare < Latin intrīcāre to entangle; see intricate

Related formsin·tri·guer, nounin·tri·guing·ly, adverbout·in·trigue, verb (used with object), out·in·trigued, out·in·tri·guing.un·in·trigued, adjectiveun·in·tri·guing, adjective

Synonyms for intrigue

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intrigue ON THESAURUS.COM

1. 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. 2019

Related Words for intrigued

charmed, fascinated, entertained, interested, absorbed

Examples from the Web for intrigued

Contemporary Examples of intrigued

The apparent leader of this girl gang Lady, says, “You look angry, and I am intrigued.”
‘Girlhood’: Coming of Age in France’s Projects
Molly Hannon
November 25, 2014
Curry was intrigued and, unlike the other filmmakers VanDyke consulted, he had time to take on a major project.
‘Point and Shoot’ Captures the Birth of a Warrior on Film
Lloyd Grove
October 31, 2014
Gillespie finds true romance in reasoning, and he was intrigued.
How Amelia's Plane Was Found
Michael Daly
October 30, 2014
People are so intrigued by this idea of the same boy actually growing up on screen—which is a classic Rick [Linklater] idea.
The Director Isn’t Done Yet: An Interview With Steven Soderbergh
Andrew Romano
August 1, 2014
Intrigued by an excerpt from a letter by Mozart included in the text?
Beguiling Books on Steroids Make Interactive Reading a Pleasure
Malcolm Jones
June 27, 2014

Historical Examples of intrigued

Here is a salad that would have intrigued the palate of Lucullus, himself.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
M. de Rivarol, intrigued by his mirth, scowled upon him disapprovingly.
Captain Blood
Rafael Sabatini
He had been a fool to have permitted himself to be intrigued by so shallow, so obvious a purpose.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini
Intrigued by his odd words and odder manner, she took the folded sheet.
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini
I plotted, and schemed, and intrigued to obtain access to information.
Gerald Fitzgerald
Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for intrigued

intrigue

verb (ɪnˈtriːɡ) -trigues, -triguing or -trigued

(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

noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)

the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc

a clandestine love affair

the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement

Derived Formsintriguer, noun

Word Origin for intrigue

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 intrigued

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).

intrigue

n.

1640s, probably from intrigue (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper