INTRIGUE

intrigue, machination

(noun) a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends

intrigue

(noun) a clandestine love affair

scheme, intrigue, connive

(verb) form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

intrigue, fascinate

(verb) cause to be interested or curious

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

intrigue (countable and uncountable, plural intrigues)

A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to effect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem.

The plot of a play, poem or romance; the series of complications in which a writer involves their imaginary characters.

Clandestine intercourse between persons; illicit intimacy; a liaison or affair.

Verb

intrigue (third-person singular simple present intrigues, present participle intriguing, simple past and past participle intrigued)

(intransitive) To conceive or carry out a secret plan intended to harm; to form a plot or scheme.

(transitive) To arouse the interest of; to fascinate.

(intransitive) To have clandestine or illicit intercourse.

(transitive) To fill with artifice and duplicity; to complicate.

Source: Wiktionary

In*trigue", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Intrigued; p. pr. & vb. n. Intriguing.] Etym: [F. intriguer, OF. intriquer, entriquer; cf. It. intrigare. See Intricate, Extricate.]

1. To form a plot or scheme; to contrive to accomplish a purpose by secret artifice.

2. To carry on a secret and illicit love or amour.

In*trigue", v. t.

Definition: To fill with artifice and duplicity; to complicate; to embarrass. [Obs.] How doth it [sin] perplex and intrique the whole course of your lives! Dr. J. Scott.

In*trigue", n. Etym: [Cf. F. intrique. See Intrigue, v. i.]

1. Intricacy; complication. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

2. A complicated plot or scheme intended to effect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem. Busy meddlers with intrigues of state. Pomfret.

3. The plot or romance; a complicated scheme of designs, actions, and events. Pope.

4. A secret and illicit love affair between two persons of different sexes; an amour; a liaison. The hero of a comedy is represented victorious in all his intrigues. Swift.

Syn.

– Plot; scheme; conspiracy; machination.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition