allurement
(əˈl(j)ʊəmənt)
Also 6 al-.
[f. allure v. + -ment.]
1. The action or process of alluring, or attracting by some proffered good; temptation, enticement.
| 1561 T. N[orton] tr. Calvin's Inst. ii. iii. (1634) 129 Will, for as much as it is drawne by allurement, cannot exclude necessity. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iv. iii. 241 Take heede of the allurement of one Count Rossillion. 1671 Milton P.R. ii. 131 Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 155 ¶8 When some craving passion shall be fully gratified, or some powerful allurement cease its importunity. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 276 The snares of the enemy are detected, his allurements avoided. 1866 Kingsley Herew. viii. 135 She found him proof against her allurements. |
2. Alluring faculty or quality; attractiveness, fascination, charm.
| 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 22 The allurement of the other drawes the mind from vertue. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vii. §27 (1873) 65 A speech of great allurement toward his own purpose. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. I. 228 To disentangle our minds from the allurements of the object. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. V. 398 Is it the right way to teach morality, to trick vice out with allurements? 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxx. (C. D. ed.) 245 The young lady..displaying her choicest allurements. |
3. The means of alluring; that which is offered or operates as a source of attraction; a lure, bait.
| 1548 Udall etc. Erasm. Paraphr. Mark i. 13 Deceiued with the pleasaunt alurement of an apple. 1626 R. Bernard Isle of Man (1627) 53 Foolish niceries, perfumings, and other allurements to dalliance. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 251 Gold..appeared to be the great allurement of the Spaniards. 1825 M{supc}Culloch Pol. Econ. iii. §3. 234 The allurements to enlist in the army. |