entice

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French enticier, from a Vulgar Latin *intitiāre, from Latin titiō.

Pronunciation

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• Rhymes: -aɪs

Verb

entice (third-person singular simple present entices, present participle enticing, simple past and past participle enticed)

1. (transitive) To lure; to attract by arousing desire or hope.
   • 2012 March 1, Brian Hayes, “Pixels or Perish”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 2, page 106:

     Blackboard sketches, geological maps, diagrams of molecular structure, astronomical photographs, MRI images, the many varieties of statistical charts and graphs: These pictorial devices are indispensable tools for presenting evidence, for explaining a theory, for telling a story. And, on top of all that, they are ornaments; they entice and intrigue and sometimes delight.

   I enticed the little bear into the trap with a pot of honey.

See also

• beguile
• tempt
• seduce

References

• entice in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• entice in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• encite