interest

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 ]