IN'TEREST, v.t. [L. inter and esse.]

1. Concern; advantage; good; as, private interest; public interest. Divisions hinder the common interest and public good. Temple.
2. Influence over others. They had now lost their interest at court. He knew his interest sufficient to procure the office. Rambler.
3. 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.
4. Regard to private profit. 'Tis interest calls off all her sneaking train. Pope.
5. 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.
6. Any surplus advantage. With all speed, / You shall have your desires with interest. Shak.

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.

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. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern.
   
   

   * 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. Shak.

3. 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.

4. Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.
5. To cause or permit to share.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands. Hooker.

   Syn. -- To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.

6. 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.

7. Premium paid for the use of money, -- 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. Shak.

8. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
   
   

   You shall have your desires with interest. Shak.

9. 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.