entice
/ɪnˈtʌɪs
/ /ɛnˈtʌɪs/verb [with object]
Attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage: a show which should entice a new audience into the theatre [with object and infinitive]: the treat is offered to entice the dog to eat...
- For those with jobs, this may not sound like a particularly enticing prospect.
- The club has come up with an attractive membership pack to entice new members.
- This was too enticing a prospect to let pass before we commenced our craft tour.
Synonyms
tempt, allure, lure, attract, dangle a carrot in front of;
appeal to, invite, persuade, convince, inveigle, induce, beguile, cajole, wheedle, coax, woo;
seduce, lead astray, lead on, decoy
informal sweet-talk, smooth-talk
tempting, alluring, attractive, appealing, fetching, inviting, glamorous, captivating, seductive;
enchanting, beguiling, charming, fascinating, intriguing, tantalizing, magnetic;
irresistible
informal, dated come-hither
Derivatives
enticer
- To secure its rights, it evidently provided legal aid to one firm that sought to enforce its indentures against enticers.
- The solicitor or enticer of a person to commit acts of prostitution will be liable for imprisonment of from one year to ten years.
Origin
Middle English (also in the sense 'incite, provoke'; formerly also as intice): from Old French enticier, probably from a base meaning 'set on fire', based on an alteration of Latin titio 'firebrand'.
Early senses of entice included ‘incite’ and ‘provoke (to anger)’. It is from Old French enticier which probably had a root meaning ‘set on fire’, and was an alteration of Latin titio ‘firebrand’.
Rhymes
- teeth
- teethe
- teeth-gnasher
- teething problems
- teething ring
- teething troubles
- millionairess
- millionaire's salad
- millionaire's shortbread
- millionairish
- millionairism
- million city
- million-dollar
- million-dollar question
- million-dollar weed
- million-dollar wound
- millioned
- millionfold
- millionheiress
- million-pound
- million-pounder
- million seller
- million-selling
- millionth
- milliosmol