Interest — Defs

01 v. t. 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…

imp. & p. p. Interested; p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting

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.
“To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men.” — Dryden.

“A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages.” — Addison.
2.
To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally.[Obs.]
“Or rather, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel.” — Ford.
3.
To cause or permit to share.[Obs.]
“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.

02 n. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a …

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.
“So much interest have I in thy sorrow.” — Shak.
2.
Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.(Finance, Commerce)
3.
Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.
“Divisions hinder the common interest and public good.” — Sir W. Temple.

“When interest calls of all her sneaking train.” — Pope.
4.
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.(Finance)
“They have told their money, and let out Their coin upon large interest.” — Shak.
5.
Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
“You shall have your desires with interest.” — Shak.
6.
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.

Phrases & compounds

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.