Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about Allure (AI summary)

In literature, "allure" emerges as a multifaceted term that conveys both a seductive charm and a compelling draw towards an object or idea. Authors use the word to depict everything from the irresistible appeal of a lover's smile or the tempting nature of forbidden desire, as seen in the delicate balance of emotion and rhetoric in works like those of Dostoyevsky [1] and Kafka [2], to the broader metaphoric attraction of ideas, lands, or virtues, as noted by Nietzsche and Milton [3, 4]. Its application ranges from the literal—inviting physical actions like fishing [5] or guiding followers through spiritual or moral persuasion [6, 7]—to the figurative, where subtle persuasion and the interplay of beauty and seduction are at work [8, 9]. In this way, "allure" not only seduces the senses but also captures the deeper currents of human ambition and emotion across a wide literary spectrum.
  1. But we shall keep the secret, and for their happiness we shall allure them with the reward of heaven and eternity.
    — from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  2. He really was attracted to the woman, and even after thinking hard about it could find no good reason why he should not give in to her allure.
    — from The Trial by Franz Kafka
  3. It seeketh to allure by means of you, the many-too-many!
    — from Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
  4. Well mightst thou scorn thy Readers to allure With tinkling Rhime, of thy own sense secure; While the Town-Bayes writes all the while and spells,
    — from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton
  5. The natural or artificial charge of a hook, to allure fish.
    — from The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by W. H. (William Henry) Smyth
  6. He shall not have many wives, that may allure his mind, nor immense sums of silver and gold.
    — from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete
  7. , the more must you allure the senses to it.
    — from Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
  8. She is proud of having found at last one of those great commotions of the soul, which used to [Pg 70] allure her imagination.
    — from On Love by Stendhal
  9. [Pg 565] with a little air of languor that only added to her allure.
    — from The Dop Doctor by Richard Dehan

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux