v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Interested p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting. ] [ From interess'd, p. p. of the older form interess, fr. F. intéresser, L. interesse. See Interest, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work. [ 1913 Webster ]

To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Or rather, gracious sir,
Create me to this glory, since my cause
Doth interest this fair quarrel. Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause or permit to share. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands. Hooker.

Syn. -- To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. interest, F. intérêt, fr. L. interest it interests, is of interest, fr. interesse to be between, to be difference, to be importance; inter between + esse to be; cf. LL. interesse usury. See Essence. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a topic or engage often in an activity. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting. [ 1913 Webster ]

So much interest have I in thy sorrow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Finance, Commerce) Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Divisions hinder the common interest and public good. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

When interest calls of all her sneaking train. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Finance) A fee paid for the use of money; a fee paid for a loan; -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars. [ 1913 Webster ]

They have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered. [ 1913 Webster ]

You shall have your desires with interest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compound interest, interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due. --
Simple interest, interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Interest, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having the attention engaged; having emotion or passion excited; as, an interested listener. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having an interest; concerned in a cause or in consequences; liable to be affected or prejudiced; as, an interested witness; an interested party. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being interested; selfishness. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Engaging the attention; exciting, or adapted to excite, interest, curiosity, or emotion; as, an interesting story; interesting news. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an interesting manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition or quality of being interesting. A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]