What is the Latin word for lure?

The usual Latin words for “lure” are ēsca, illecebra, inēscō; also alliciō, allectō, illiciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“lure” in Latin

ēscafood; fodder; fuel, especially firewood illecebraenticement, lure inēscōto allure with bait; to entice, deceive alliciōto entice, lure or attract; to win over; to obtain, gain, capture allectōto allure, entice, encourage illiciōto entice, seduce

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

lure s.

cibus ad fraudem alicujus positus (PROP., i. e., a bait, Liv.): esca, illecebra (PROP. and figuratively; i. e., bait, enticement).

lure v.

PROP., inescare. Figuratively, allicere; allectare; invitare et allectare; allectare et invitare (aliquem ad aliquid); illicere or pellicere aliquem in or ad aliquid; illecebris trabere (to lure successfully).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for lure?: The usual Latin words for “lure” are ēsca, illecebra, inēscō; also alliciō, allectō, illiciō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.