v. Forms: α. 3–6 entyce, -tyse, 4–7 entise, (4 entythe, 7 entize,) 4– entice. β. 4 intisce, 5–6 intyce, 6–7 intise, 5–8 intice. [a. OF. enticier (in ONF. enticher) = sense 1; the etymological sense was prob. ‘to set on fire, add fuel to (a fire)’; app. repr. Lat. type *intitiāre, f. in- (see IN-) + *titi-us (class. L. titio) firebrand. Cf. ATTICE (of which this is a parallel form) and TICE; for the development of sense cf. EMBRACE v.3]
† 1. trans. To stir up, incite, instigate (to a course of action); also to provoke (to anger). Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 235. Edelfred … He entyced and oþer kynges … Þat hii wende to Walys.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 114. Glotonye entythyth [? read entychyth, entyssyth; rhyme norysseth] To lecherye her.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1136. Þou dryȝtyn dyspleses with dedes ful sore, & entyses hym to tene more trayþly þen euer.
a. 1400[?]. Chester Pl. (1843–7), 207. When he intisced hym through his read.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 307. To entyce the Emperour to take overe the mounttes.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1998. Therein to do as ye shall me entyce.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 720. Your maister, is … entised and prouoked by the Duke of Burgoyn.
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., 66. Not suffering the Athenians to giue them the least way, but inticing them to the Warre.
2. To allure, attract by the offer of pleasure or advantage; esp. to allure insidiously or adroitly. Often const. from, to (a course of conduct, a place). Also with away, in.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1503. Ȝyf þou … entycedest any fro relygyoun, Gostly þou mayst hym slo.
1401. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 33. What charity is this … to intice him to be buried among you from his parish church.
1550. Act 3 & 4 Edw. VI., c. 16 § 13. If … the father … steale, or intise away any such child.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 187. [Bees] … entised with these newe flowres … feed … greedilie.
1607. Dekker, Westw. Hoe, Wks. 1873, II. 306. Intist from mine owne Paradice, To steale fruit in a barren wildernes.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xix. (1655), 144. Those that keep the Bodegones … will commonly intice in the Indians, and make them drunk.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 209. Beer mingled with Honey, to entice the Wasps, Flies, &c.
1706. Addison, Rosamond, III. iii. That no foul minister of vice Again my sinking soul intice.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. vi. 463. We could not entice them [Pilots] on board us.
1786. H. Tooke, Purley, Introd. 6. I shall not be at all inticed by them to take upon my shoulders a burthen.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. (1810), 31. No curious shell, rare plant … Inticed our traveller, from his home, so far.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxv. 343. My Lady strove to entice him into the general talk.
1880. T. A. Spalding, Eliz. Demonol., 22. The most successful method of enticing stragglers into its folds.
† c. transf. To attract physically. nonce-use.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. iii. 76. It would not intice it [the Needle] from A to B, but repell it from A to Z.
† 3. [? A distinct word, a. OF. entechier: see ENTECHE.] ? To catch (an infection or stain). Obs.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 3436. How tender hit is to entyse teches of fylþe.
Hence † Enticeable a., Obs., in 7 intiseable, fitted to entice, seductive. † Enticeful a., Obs. rare, enticing, full of enticement.
1607. Exam. Geo. Blakwel, 156. Intiseable perswasions of mens alluring reasons.
1556. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, II. (1561), L b. Women enticefull past shame.
