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Webster 1913 Edition

Interest

In′ter-est

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Interested
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Interesting
.]
[From
interess’d
, p. p. of the older form
interess
, fr. F.
intéresser
, L.
interesse
. See
Interest
,
Noun.
]
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.]
Syn. – To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.

In′ter-est

,
Noun.
[OF.
interest
, F.
intérêt
, fr. L.
interest
it interests, is of interest, fr.
interesse
to be between, to be difference, to be importance;
inter
between +
esse
to be; cf. LL.
interesse
usury. See
Essence
.]
☞ Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting.
So much
interest
have I in thy sorrow.
Shakespeare
2.
(Finance, Commerce)
Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part;
as, an
interest
in a brewery; he has parted with his
interest
in the stocks.
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.
(Finance)
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
.
They have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large
interest
.
Shakespeare
5.
Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
You shall have your desires with
interest
.
Shakespeare
6.
The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively;
as, the iron
interest
; the cotton
interest
.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Interest

IN'TEREST

,
Verb.
T.
[L. inter and esse.]
1.
To concern; to affect; to excite emotion or passion, usually in favor,but sometimes against a person or thing. A narration of suffering interests us in favor of the sufferer. We are interested in the story or in the fate of the sufferer. We are interested to know the result, issue or event of an enterprise. It is followed by in or for. We are interested in the narration,but for the sufferer.
2.
To give a share in. Christ, by his atonement, has interested believers in the blessings of the covenant of grace.
3.
To have a share.
We are not all interested in the public funds, but we are all interested in the happiness of a free government.
4.
To engage; as, to interest one in our favor.
To interest one's self, is to take a share or concern in.

IN'TEREST

,
Noun.
Concern; advantage; good; as private interest; public interest.
Divisions hinder the common interest and public good.
1.
Influence over others. They had now lost their interest at court.
He knew his interest sufficient to procure the office.
2.
Share; portion; part; participation in value. He has parted with his interest in the stocks. He has an interest in a manufactory of cotton goods.
3.
Regard to private profit.
'Tis interest calls off all her sneaking train.
4.
Premium paid for the use of money; the profit per cent derived from money lent, or property used by another person, or from debts remaining unpaid. Commercial states have a legal rate of interest. Debts on book bear an interest after the expiration of the credit. Courts allow interest in many cases where it is not stipulated. A higher rate of interest than that which the law allows, is called usury.
Simple interest is that which arises from the principal sum only.
Compound interest is that which arises from the principal with the interest added; interest on interest.
5.
Any surplus advantage.
With all speed,
you shall have your desire with interest.

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