interest
Definitions
A feeling of wanting to know about or be involved in something; curiosity.
兴趣；关注。
Money paid regularly for borrowing money, or earned on savings.
利息。
A stake, advantage, or share in something.
利益；利害关系；股份。
To make someone want to give attention to something.
使感兴趣；引起…的兴趣。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedinter- (between) + est (it is, from Latin esse) = 'it is between' — the Latin phrase inter est meant 'it makes a difference.' Something between you and an outcome concerns you, so you have a stake in it. From this come curiosity, financial stake, and loan interest alike.
Root est still carries 5 more wordsWhy It Means This
The many senses of interest all grow from one Latin idea: inter est, 'it is between' / 'it makes a difference.' What lies between you and an outcome is what you care about and have a stake in. That single notion split into curiosity (mental stake), financial interest (a stake in a business), and loan interest (the lender's stake in being repaid). Far from being unrelated meanings, they are siblings born of the same 'being between.'
Common Collocations
- 1.have an interest in对…有兴趣
- 2.interest rate利率
- 3.lose interest失去兴趣
- 4.conflict of interest利益冲突
- 5.in the public interest为了公众利益
Example Sentences
- 1.
She has a deep interest in marine biology.
- 2.
The loan carries an interest rate of five percent.
- 3.
He sold his interest in the family business.
- 4.
The documentary really interested the whole class.