Library / English Dictionary

ENTICE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion

Example:

He lured me into temptation

Synonyms:

entice; lure; tempt

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "entice" is one way to...):

provoke; stimulate (provide the needed stimulus for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "entice"):

hook; snare (entice and trap)

seduce (lure or entice away from duty, principles, or proper conduct)

call (lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal)

stool (lure with a stool, as of wild fowl)

lead on (entice or induce especially when unwise or mistaken)

tweedle (entice through the use of music)

decoy (lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy)

bait (lure, entice, or entrap with bait)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sentence example:

They entice him to write the letter

Derivation:

enticement (the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire)

enticement (qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward)

enticement (something that seduces or has the quality to seduce)

Credits

 Context examples: 

As Buck grew stronger they enticed him into all sorts of ridiculous games, in which Thornton himself could not forbear to join; and in this fashion Buck romped through his convalescence and into a new existence.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I found that the sparrow uttered none but harsh notes, whilst those of the blackbird and thrush were sweet and enticing.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was in reality a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had only built the little house of bread in order to entice them there.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Kidnappers and inveiglers were planted in all the avenues of entrance to the Commons, with instructions to do their utmost to cut off all persons in mourning, and all gentlemen with anything bashful in their appearance, and entice them to the offices in which their respective employers were interested; which instructions were so well observed, that I myself, before I was known by sight, was twice hustled into the premises of our principal opponent.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The witch placed herself on the shore, threw breadcrumbs in, and went to endless trouble to entice the duck; but the duck did not let herself be enticed, and the old woman had to go home at night as she had come.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I had observed yesterday, that he tried to entice Mr. Wickfield to drink; and, interpreting the look which Agnes had given me as she went out, had limited myself to one glass, and then proposed that we should follow her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)