[in.ter.est] n [ME, prob. alter. of earlier interesse, fr. AF & ML; AF, fr. ML, fr. L, to be between, make a difference, concern, fr. inter- + esse to be--more at is] (15c) 1 a (1): right, title, or legal share in something (2): participation in advantage and responsibility b: business, company
2. a: a charge for borrowed money generally a percentage of the amount borrowed b: an excess above what is due or expected "returned the insults with ~"
3: advantage, benefit; also: self-interest
4: special interest
5. a: a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects: concern b: something that arouses such attention c: a quality in a thing arousing interest
[2]interest vt (1608) 1: to induce or persuade to participate or engage
2: to engage the attention or arouse the interest of