fascinate
verb/ˈfæsɪneɪt/
Etymology Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), itself of obscure origin.
1
To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
- The flickering TV fascinated the cat.
2
To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.
- We were fascinated by the potter's skill.
- Leo, too, was strangely touched. Hitherto he had been fascinated against his better judgment, something as a bird is fascinated by a snake, but now I think that all this passed away, and he realised that he really loved this strange and glorious creature, as, alas! I loved her also.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
3
To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.
- Her gait fascinates all men.
- Derived terms
- fascinated, fascinating, fascinator, fascinoma, unfascinating
- Related terms
- fascination