mesmerism
nounUK /ˈmɛz.məˌɹɪz.əm/ · CA, US /ˈmɛz.mɚˌɪz.əm/
Etymology From French mesmérisme, analysable as Mesmer + -ism; so called after Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), a German physician who developed the animal magnetism theory.
1
The method or power of gaining control over someone's personality or actions, as in hypnosis or suggestion.
- What is the secret mesmerism which friendship possesses, and under the operation of which a person ordinarily sluggish, or cold, or timid, becomes wise, active, and resolute, in another's behalf?1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 23, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
2
The state induced by hypnotic methods (especially that of Mesmer himself).
- ...the fact stood proven that I had seen it in my vision. Lawks! ...When the magician's engagement closed there was but one person in the village who did not believe in mesmerism, and I was the one. All the others were converted, but I was to remain an implacable and unpersuadable disbeliever in mesmerism and hypnotism for close upon fifty years.2010, Mark Twain, Autobiography of Mark Twain, volume 2, page 302:
- Derived terms
- mesmeric, phrenomesmerism, mesmerist, mesmerize, mesmerized, mesmerizing