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interest (usu. 2 syll.; but sometimes 3 syll. at the end of line, e.g. 1H4 IV. iii. 49 “You shall have your desires with interest,” but not in Cym. IV. ii. 365)
1. legal concern (“in”), right or title (“to” possessions or the enjoyment of them) John IV. iii. 147 “unow'd of proud-swelling state,” 1H4 III. ii. 98 “ to the state,” 2H6 III. i. 84 “all your in those territories,” Lr. I. i. 52 “ of territory,” 87 “to be ” (=to constitute a claim; but see INTERESS'D); fig. AYL. V. i. 8, Tit. III. i. 249 “Where life hath no more but to breathe,” Lucr. 1067, 1619, 1797
2. right or title to share in, part 1H6 V. iv. 167, R3 II. ii. 47 “so much have I in thy sorrow,” Rom. III. i. 194.
3. advantageous concern (“in” a thing) Cym. IV. ii. 365 “What's thy In this sad wrack?” ; profit, advantage Mac. I. ii. 66 “Our bosom ” ; phr. “in the interest of” Lr. V. iii. 86.
4. (?) influence due to personal connexion Mer.V. III. ii. 222* “my new ” (viz. as Portia's accepted suitor); but perhaps merely fig. of sense 1
5. money paid for the use of money lent Mer.V. I. iii. 52, Tim. III. v. 110 “let out Their coin upon large ” ; fig. 1H4 IV. iii. 49, Ven. 210 “Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again, And one for interest.”
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hide References (14 total)
  • Cross-references in text-specific dictionaries from this page (14):
    • William Shakespeare, Macbeth, 1.2
    • William Shakespeare, King Lear, 1.1
    • William Shakespeare, King Lear, 5.3
    • William Shakespeare, King John, 4.3
    • William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 5.1
    • William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, 4.2
    • William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry IV, 3.2
    • William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry IV, 4.3
    • William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry VI, 5.4
    • William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henry VI, 3.1
    • William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, 1.3
    • William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, 3.2
    • William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, ven
    • William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece
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