fascinate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To attract and hold someone's interest very strongly.

   The story of the ancient city fascinated everyone in the class.

2. 2
   verb

   To charm or attract someone in a way they cannot resist.

   Her confidence and wit fascinated everyone she met.

Simplified etymology

Fascinate entered English in the late 16th century from Latin fascinare, meaning “to bewitch.” Its earliest recorded English sense was “to bewitch” or “put under a spell.”

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary