fascinate means to evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, fascinate ranks #2,308 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,351 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #2,356 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #2,430 of 14,340 for Most Vivid Words.
fascinate is pronounced /ˈfæsɪneɪt/.
Why “fascinate” is a great word
To hold someone in thrall by evoking an intense, spellbound attraction that arrests motion and thought. From the Latin fascinatus, past participle of fascinare ("to bewitch, enchant"), from fascinum ("a phallus-shaped amulet; a spell, witchcraft") of obscure origin. First attested in English in the 1590s. Unlike "mesmerize," which implies a hypnotic and potentially overpowering fixation, or "charm," which delights through graceful allure, to fascinate is to enchant with a quieter, more profound captivation. It is the glint of a serpent's scale in still water, the intricate unfurling of a spider's web at dawn, the slow, spiraling descent of a single leaf—the quiet witchcraft of the ordinary world, holding us utterly still and reminding us that to be enchanted is to be, for a moment, disarmed.
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.
verb
- To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.“The flickering TV fascinated the cat.”
- To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.“We were fascinated by the potter's skill.”
- To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.“Her gait fascinates all men.”
Words closest in meaning
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