INTEREST


Meaning of INTEREST in English

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.