interesting

Etymology

It is formed from English interest + -ing, as the present participle of the verb used as an adjective.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} That verb is an alteration of interess, made after the noun of the same spelling,^[2] which is from Old French interest (“damage, loss, harm”),^[3] from Latin interest (“it is of importance”), the third person singular present of intersum (“to concern; literally to be between”), from inter (“between”) and sum (“to be”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

That causes a person to be concerned or involved in something, or that gives a stake or right in it, frequently in Christian contexts: before 1635, in R. Sibbes.^[2] Etymonline and Merriam-Webster Unabridged start the word only in 1711,^[3][4] and the Shorter Oxford in the early 18th century,^[5] with the meaning "that concerns; important".^[3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

The word first described what touched a person's concerns: it conferred a stake in something, and later had a bearing on someone or was simply important, a use the OED follows until 1868.^[2] From this grew the sense now usual, of having qualities that hold attention or rouse curiosity, recorded by the OED from 1724 and by Etymonline by 1751.^[2][3] The euphemism for pregnancy, as in an interesting condition, is found from 1748, in Smollett's Roderick Random, and the OED now calls it somewhat dated.^[2][3] Since 1893 the adjective has also been used ironically of something noteworthy for bad reasons.^[2]

Timeline

• before 1635 – that causes a person to be concerned or involved; later, important (obsolete by 1868).^[2]
• 1724 – holding the attention, arousing curiosity.^[2] Etymonline has this by 1751.^[3]
• 1748 – euphemistically, of pregnancy.^[2][3]
• 1893 – ironically, remarkable for bad reasons.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Holding the attention or arousing curiosity: The guide gave an interesting talk on the old bridges.^[7][4][2]
2. In ironic use, remarkable for bad reasons.^[2]
3. (dated) in an interesting condition: pregnant.^[2][3]
4. (obsolete, 1635–1868) Of concern; important.^[2][4][5]

Word family

• interestingly
• interestingness
• uninteresting

Related words

• interest

Usage notes

The main stress formerly fell generally on the second syllable, and it still does in some regional varieties.^[2] Merriam-Webster Unabridged says the word may imply a power to hold attention to an unspecified degree, through curiosity, sympathy or a wish to understand,^[4] and Dictionary.com says that it occupies the mind without implying pleasure or displeasure, unlike pleasing and gratifying.^[6]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins