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intrigue

Pronunciation: /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/

The English word “intrigue” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem; the practice of engaging in hidden schemes.
  2. Clandestine intercourse between persons; illicit intimacy; a liaison or affair.
  3. The plot of a play, poem or romance; the series of complications in which a writer involves their imaginary characters.
  4. A desire to understand something; interest or fascination.

verb

  1. To conceive or carry out a secret plan intended to harm; to form a plot or scheme.
  2. To arouse the interest of; to fascinate.
  3. To have clandestine or illicit intercourse.
  4. To fill with artifice and duplicity; to complicate.

Etymology

Borrowed from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“to entangle, perplex, embarrass”). Doublet of intricate.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.