Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

al·lure       (ə-lŏŏr')  Pronunciation Key  v.   al·lured, al·lur·ing, al·lures v.   tr. To attract with something desirable; entice: Promises of quick profits allure the unwary investor. v.   intr. To be highly, often subtly attractive: charms that still allure. n.   The power to attract; enticement. [Middle English aluren, from Old French alurer : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + loirre, bait (of Germanic origin).] al·lure'ment n., al·lur'er n., al·lur'ing·ly adv.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

alluring

adjective

highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire; "an alluring prospect"; "her alluring smile"; "the voice was low and beguiling"; "difficult to say no to an enticing advertisement"; "a tempting invitation"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Alluring

Al*lure"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Alluring.] [OF. aleurrer, alurer, fr. a (L. ad) + leurre lure. See Lure.] To attempt to draw; to tempt by a lure or bait, that is, by the offer of some good, real or apparent; to invite by something flattering or acceptable; to entice; to attract.

With promised joys allured them on. --Falconer.

The golden sun in splendor likest Heaven Allured his eye. --Milton.

Syn: To attract; entice; tempt; decoy; seduce.

Usage: To Allure, Entice, Decoy, Seduce. These words agree in the idea of acting upon the mind by some strong controlling influence, and differ according to the image under which is presented. They are all used in a bad sense, except allure, which has sometimes (though rarely) a good one. We are allured by the prospect or offer (usually deceptive) of some future good. We are commonly enticed into evil by appeals to our passions. We are decoyed into danger by false appearances or representations. We are seduced when drawn aside from the path of rectitude. What allures draws by gentle means; what entices leads us by promises and persuasions; what decoys betrays us, as it were, into a snare or net; what seduces deceives us by artful appeals to the passions.