Lewis & Short

illĕcĕbra (inl-), ae, f. [illicio], an enticement, in a good or bad sense, an inducement, attraction, charm, allurement, bait, lure.

  1. I. Lit. (class.; in sing. and plur.; a favorite word of Cic.; cf.: invitatio, invitamentum).
          1. (α) With gen. (subj. or obj.): quae tanta in ullo homine juventutis illecebra fuit, quanta in illo? Cic. Cat. 2, 4, 8: maxima est illecebra peccandi impunitatis spes, id. Mil. 16, 43: voluptas est illecebra turpitudinis, id. Leg. 1, 11, 31: fallax illecebra admirationum, Gell. 10, 12, 4: quaestionis, id. 12, 5, 5.
            In plur.: habet etiam amoenitas ipsa vel sumptuosas vel desidiosas illecebras multas cupiditatum, Cic. Rep. 2, 4: voluptatis, id. de Sen. 12, 40; id. Fam. 15, 16, 3: vitiorum (with lenocinia cupiditatum), id. Sest. 66, 138: corruptelarum, id. Cat. 1, 6, 13.
          2. (β) Absol.: munditia illecebra animo est amantūm, Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 4: ad quam illecebiam cum commoveretur nemo, etc., Liv. 10, 4.
            In plur.: suis te oportet illecebris ipsa virtus trahat ad verum decus, Cic. Rep. 6, 23; 6, 1: jocum tentavit, eo quod Illecebris erat et grata novitate morandus Spectator, Hor. A. P. 223.
  2. II. Transf., concr.
    1. A. Of an alluring, seductive person, an enticer, a decoy-bird, Plaut. As. 1, 2, 25; id. Truc. 1, 2, 82; 4, 2, 46.
    2. B. A plant, called also andrachne agria, Plin. 25, 13, 103, § 162; 26, 12, 79, § 128.