late Middle English (originally as interess): from Anglo-Norman French interesse, from medieval Latin interesse ‘compensation for a debtor's defaulting’, from Latin interesse ‘differ, be important’, from inter- ‘between’ + esse ‘be’. The -t was added partly by association with Old French interest ‘damage, loss’, apparently from Latin interest ‘it is important’. The original sense was ‘the possession of a share in or a right to something’; hence interest. interest arose in the mid 17th century, and the corresponding sense of the verb in the early 18th century. .