enticer

An enticer is a person or thing that entices, or a device or tactic designed to attract or tempt someone to take a particular action. In everyday use, an enticer can refer to a persuasive lure, a charming individual, or a promotional offer intended to persuade someone to engage, purchase, or participate.

Etymology and sense: The word enticer is formed from entice, which comes from Old French enticer, ultimately from Latin incitare meaning to excite or stir up. The suffix -er denotes a person or thing associated with the action described by the verb.

Contexts and usage: In marketing and sales, an enticer is any incentive—such as free samples, discounts, or limited-time deals—designed to attract customers. In psychology and behavioral economics, enticement refers to the appeal that motivates decision-making. In legal language, enticement can describe the act of luring someone to do something, sometimes related to crimes; a person who performs such luring might be described as an enticer, though the term ENTICEMENT is more commonly used in legal discussion.

Cultural and rhetorical usage: Enticers frequently appear in literature, film, and rhetoric as symbolic figures or devices that tempt characters toward a choice, often highlighting themes of temptation, self-control, and consequences. The term tends to carry a formal or evaluative nuance, relating to the persuasion or attraction exerted by a person, situation, or offer.

See also: enticement, lure, temptation, bait, advertising psychology.