entice

Entice is a verb meaning to attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage; to lure someone or something. The act often involves presenting appealing features, rewards, or circumstances that encourage a person to take a desired action. Entice is typically transitive, as in "advertisers entice customers with discounts," and common constructions include enticing someone to do something or enticing someone into doing something.

Noun forms include enticement, the thing that tempts or lures; enticement can also refer to the overall act or appeal. Adjective enticing describes something that is tempting.

Origin: The word comes from Old French enticer, from Latin incitare "to urge on, excite." Over time, the sense broadened to include attracting by appeal rather than by force.

Usage notes: Entice often connotes a voluntary response to temptation, though it can also imply manipulation or deceit in contexts such as scams, fraud, or criminal enticement. In legal contexts, enticement of a minor or enticement to commit a crime refers to encouraging unlawful acts.

Examples: Advertisers entice consumers with limited-time offers. A persuasive speaker enticed the crowd with promises of rewards. A hawker might entice tourists with souvenirs. A legitimate warning: enticement differs from coercion; consent may be compromised if the enticement overwhelms free choice.

See also: enticement, temptation, lure, attract.