I. ˈin-t(ə-)rəst; ˈin-tə-ˌrest, -ˌtrest; ˈin-tərst noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably alteration of earlier interesse, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter- + esse to be — more at is
Date: 15th century
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. : the profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital
c. : an excess above what is due or expected
returned the insults with interest
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
II. transitive verb
Date: 1608
1. : to induce or persuade to participate or engage
2. : to engage the attention or arouse the interest of