entice

[ en-tahys ]

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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

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English enticen, from Old French enticier “to incite,” from unattested Vulgar Latin intitiāre, equivalent to Latin in- in-² + -titiāre, verbal derivative of unattested titius, for titiō “piece of burning wood”

Other words for entice

lure, attract, decoy, tempt

See synonyms for entice on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for entice

repel

See antonyms for entice on Thesaurus.com

Other words from entice

un·en·ticed, adjective

Words Nearby entice

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use entice in a sentence

“That FBI money is designed to entice somebody in the United states to help find where he is overseas,” the former agent said.
Post Office Robbers More Wanted Than ISIS | M.L. Nestel | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
ISIS, on the other hand, spread $2 million in the area, to entice local tribes and leaders to permit their presence there.
U.S. Ignored Warnings Before ISIS Takeover of a Key City | Josh Rogin | July 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Why is the onus on smart women then to hustle and entice these men?
Dear Princeton Mom, Stop Telling Me To Husband-Hunt | Emily Shire | February 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The camera crew took advantage of this and used a green laser pointer to entice the cheerleaders to move around the stadium.
‘The Puppy Bowl’: The Super Bowl’s Fiercest Rival | Lori-Lee Emshey | February 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Regolo says that it is hard to entice people to leave a more lucrative lifestyle, even when it can be deadly.
Three-Year-Old Coco Is The Italian Mafia’s Littlest Victim | Barbie Latza Nadeau | January 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

It is doubtful if any woman had done as much to entice them to a common focus as the surmounting Mrs. Hofer.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
To Dangerfield, the proof seemed slight—what was there in the denuded room to entice a thief?
The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
Then may not this accusation be a plan to entice you to confess what, I grant, they may suspect, but cannot prove!
The Mysterious Wanderer, Vol. III | Sophia Reeve
The French poured in a single volley, and fell back; not to retreat, but to entice pursuit.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II) | Charles James Lever
No more with evil charms wilt thou entice the children to thy lonely forest home.
Indian Legends of Vancouver Island | Alfred Carmichael

British Dictionary definitions for entice

entice

/ (ɪnˈtaɪs) /

verb

(tr) to attract or draw towards oneself by exciting hope or desire; tempt; allure

Origin of entice

C13: from Old French enticier, from Vulgar Latin intitiāre (unattested) to incite, from Latin titiō firebrand

Derived forms of entice

enticement, noun
enticer, noun
enticing, adjective
enticingly, adverb
enticingness, noun

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

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