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intrigue

Syllabification: (in·trigue)
Translate intrigue | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of intrigue

verb

Pronunciation: /inˈtrēg/
(intrigues, intriguing, intrigued)
  • 1 [with object] arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate:I was intrigued by your question
  • 2 [no object] make secret plans to do something illicit or detrimental to someone:the delegates were intriguing for their own gains

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈinˌtrēg/
  • 1the secret planning of something illicit or detrimental to someone:the cabinet was a nest of intrigue the intrigues of local government officials
  • a secret love affair.
  • 2a mysterious or fascinating quality:within the region’s borders is a wealth of interest and intrigue

Derivatives

intriguer

noun

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'deceive, cheat'): from French intrigue 'plot', intriguer 'to tangle, to plot', via Italian from Latin intricare (see intricate). intrigue (sense 1 of the verb), which was influenced by a later French sense 'to puzzle, make curious', arose in the late 19th century

Remember that intrigue ends with -gue.

intrigue in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of intrigue in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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