Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-TRIGUE', n. [intree'g; Fr. id. It. intrigo; verbs. Fr. intriguer, to perplex, embroil, intrigue; It. intricare, intrigare, to perplex, to make intricate; Low L. intrico, intricor, to inwrap; tricor, to trifle, to show tricks; allied to Gr. θριξ, τριχος, hair or a lock of hair, as we should say, a plexus. In D. bedriegen, G. bitriegen, signify to cheat; D. driegen, to tack, to baste; G. triegen, to deceive; trug, deceit, fraud. The primary sense seems to be to fold, lay over, or to draw together.]

1. A plot or scheme of a complicated nature, intended to effect some purpose by secret artifices. An intrigue may be formed and prosecuted by an individual, and we often hear of the intrigues of a minister or a courtier, but often several projectors are concerned in an intrigue. The word is usually applied to affairs of love or of government.
2. The plot of a play or romance; a complicated scheme of designs, actions and events, intended to awaken interest in an audience or reader, and make them wait with eager curiosity for the solution or development.
3. Intricacy; complication. [Not in use.] Hale.