Webster's English Dictionary

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interest

1. in.ter.est \'in-tr*st; 'int-*-r*st, -*-.rest, -*rst; 'in-.trest\ n [ME, 
   prob. alter. of earlier interesse, fr. AF & ML; AF, fr. ML, fr. L, t]o be 
   between, make a difference, concern, fr. inter- + esse to be - more at IS 
   1a1: right, title, or legal share in something  1a2: participation in 
   advantage and responsibility  1b: a business in which one has an interest  
   2: WELFARE, BENEFIT; specif : SELF-INTEREST  3a: a charge for borrowed 
   money generally a percentage of the amount borrow ed 3b: an excess above 
   what is due  4: a group financially interested in an industry or enterprise 
    5a: readiness to be concerned with or moved by an object or class of 
   object s 5b: the quality in a thing that arouses interest 
2. interest vt 1: to involve the interest or welfare of : AFFECT, CONCERN  
   2: to induce or persuade to participate or engage  3: to engage the 
   attention or arouse the interest of