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.
In"ter*est, n. [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.]
1. 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.
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2. 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. 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.
5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what
is given or rendered.
You shall have your desires with interest.
Shak.
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.