intrigue English · revision 829

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/, /ɪnˈtɹiːɡ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|intriguer|t=to puzzle, plot]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|it|intrigare|t=to plot, meddle; to entangle]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la|intrīcāre|t=to entangle, perplex]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) The noun is partly from French ''intrigue'', from Italian ''intrigo''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) It is a doublet of [[intricate]], which came into English directly from Latin.^(Cresswell 2021) An earlier borrowing, Middle English ''entriken'' “to entangle”, is recorded in the late 14th century.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to trick, deceive or perplex (1612);^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as a noun, intricacy or complexity (1656), and secret scheming (1647).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “to perplex” the verb came to mean to carry on a secret love affair (1660)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to plot or scheme (before 1714).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The noun followed: underhand plotting (1668), a secret plot, and an illicit love affair (1668).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It was also used of the plot of a play (1651).^(OED 1989) The modern sense, “to arouse the curiosity or interest of”, appeared in 1894 under renewed French influence;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) the OED called it “a modern gallicism”.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1612 – verb, to trick, perplex.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1647 – noun, secret scheming.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660 – verb, to carry on a secret love affair.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1668 – noun, an illicit liaison.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1714 – verb, to plot.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1894 – to arouse the curiosity of.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A secret or underhand scheme; a [[plot]] or [[machination]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The practice of engaging in such schemes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A [[clandestine]] love affair.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To arouse the interest or curiosity of; to [[fascinate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To engage in secret or underhand schemes; to plot.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To bring about or obtain by intrigue.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intriguer]]

+ * [[intriguingly]]

+ * [[outintrigue]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[intricacy]]

+ * [[intricate]]

+ * [[intriguing]]

+ * [[extricate]]

+ * [[trick]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The sense “to arouse the interest of” was at first resisted by usage writers as an unneeded French substitute for ''interest'', ''fascinate'' or ''puzzle'', but it is now well established.^(AHD) 78 percent of the AHD Usage Panel accepted it in the early 1990s, against 52 percent in a 1968 survey.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}