interest

noun

1. a right or claim to something
2. 1. a share or participation in something
   2. something, as a business, in which one participates or has a share
   3. a personal connection or involvement which might be thought to compromise one's impartiality in carrying out one's official duties
3. advantage; welfare; benefit
4. a group of people having a common concern or dominant power in some industry, occupation, cause, etc. the steel interests
5. personal influence
6. 1. a feeling of intentness, concern, or curiosity about something an interest in politics
   2. the power of causing this feeling books of interest to children
   3. something causing this feeling the academic interests of a scholar
7. importance; consequence a matter of little interest
8. 1. money paid for the use of money
   2. the rate of such payment, expressed as a percentage per unit of time
9. an increase over what is owed to repay kindness with interest

Etymology: ME interesse < ML usury, compensation (in L, to be between, be different, interest < inter-, between + esse, to be: see is): altered, infl. by OFr interest < L, it interests, concerns, 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of interesse

transitive verb

1. to involve the interest, or concern, of; have an effect upon
2. to cause to have an interest or take part in can I interest you in a game of golf?
3. to excite the attention or curiosity of

Etymology: prob. < ME interessed < interesse + -ed