intrigue (English)

Where does "intrigue" come from?

The English noun 'intrigue' was borrowed from French 'intrigue'[1], which is derived from the verb 'intriguer'[2]. This traces back to the Italian 'intricare'[1], originating from the Latin verb 'intrīcāre'[4] or 'intrīcō', meaning 'I entangle, perplex, embarrass'[1]. The Latin term itself builds upon 'in-' combined with 'trīcae', meaning 'trifles'[3].

Open questions

• The origin of the Latin root tricae is uncertain, with proposals including a derivation from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to rub or to turn, as well as a speculative comparison to Tocharian B. [5]

Full etymology tree

• intrigue (English), 'A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to effect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem.'
  • borrowed intrigue (French), 'intrigue (complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to effect some purpose by secret artifice)'
    • borrowed intricare (Italian), 'to tangle'
      • borrowed intrico (Latin), 'to entangle, perplex, embarrass'
        • prefix in- (Latin), 'Prepositional prefix, generally attached to verbs to derive new verbs with a range of meanings.'
        • compound tricae (Latin), 'trifles, toys, trumpery'
        • suffix -o (Latin), 'suffixed to nouns or adjectives. Originally a-stem nouns. Later extended to nouns with other stems. Forms regular first-conjugation verbs'
      • inherited intricare (Latin), 'inflection of intrīcō:'

Ancestors

• intrigue (French)
• intricare (Italian)
• intrico (Latin)

Cognates and doublets

• intricate (English)

Descendants and derived words

• counterintrigue (English)
• palace intrigue (English)

Related words

• subterfuge (English)

Sources

1. intrigue (English) - Wiktionary
2. intrigue (French) - Wiktionary
3. intrico (Latin) - Wiktionary
4. intricare (Italian) - Wiktionary
5. tricae (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris