intrigue

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

/ verb ɪnˈtrig; noun ɪnˈtrig, ˈɪn trig /

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.

Nearby words

Origin of intrigue

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

SYNONYMS FOR intrigue

1 interest, attract, fascinate.

7 manipulate.

9, 10 manipulation.

Related forms

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

un·in·tri·guing, adjective

Synonym study

10. See conspiracy.

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

Examples from the Web for intriguingly

But one issue, intriguingly, seems ripe for genuine bipartisan cooperation: criminal justice reform.
Why Isn’t Prison Justice on the Ballot This Tuesday?|Inimai Chettiar, Abigail Finkelman|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Conservatives attacking the president, intriguingly, might say the same.
Is Democracy Doomed Abroad?|James Poulos|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Intriguingly, not a word of our Roman evidence for his legislation refers to Christians.
The Death of Jesus and the Rise of the Christian Persecution Myth|Candida Moss|March 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Intriguingly, the magazine's editor has claimed they were taken by a member of the public on a public beach.
Kate Bikini Bump Pics Go Global|Tom Sykes|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Intriguingly, Lisa and Jo, who now have both separated from their partners, have moved in together as housemates in real life.
Meet the Dublin Housewives|Tom Sykes|January 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for intriguingly

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 intriguingly (1 of 2)

intrigue

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).

Word Origin and History for intriguingly (1 of 2)

intrigue

1640s, probably from intrigue (v.).