Fascinate \Fas"ci*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fascinated, p.
pr. & vb. n.. Fascinating.] [L. fascinare; cf. Gr.
?????????? to slander, bewitch.]
1. To influence in an uncontrollable manner; to operate on by
some powerful or irresistible charm; to bewitch; to
enchant.
[1913 Webster]
It has been almost universally believed that . . .
serpents can stupefy and fascinate the prey which
they are desirous to obtain. --Griffith
(Cuvier).
[1913 Webster]
2. To excite and allure irresistibly or powerfully; to charm;
to captivate, as by physical or mental charms.
[1913 Webster]
There be none of the passions that have been noted
to fascinate or bewitch but love and envy. --Bacon.
Syn: To charm; enrapture; captivate; enchant; bewitch;
attract.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
fascinate
v 1: cause to be interested or curious [syn: intrigue]
2: to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing
terror or awe; "The snake charmer fascinates the cobra"
[syn: transfix, grip, spellbind]
3: attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's
hearts" [syn: capture, enamour, trance, catch, becharm,
enamor, captivate, beguile, charm, bewitch, entrance,
enchant]
WordNet (r) 2.0
102 Moby Thesaurus words for "fascinate":
absorb, absorb the attention, affect, affect the interest, allure,
appeal, arrest, attract, becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate,
carry away, cast a spell, catch, catch up, charm, concern,
delectate, delight, draw, draw on, enamor, enchant, endear, engage,
engage the attention, engage the mind, engage the thoughts,
engross, engross the mind, engross the thoughts, enrapture,
enravish, ensorcell, enthrall, entrance, excite, excite interest,
exercise, flush, freak out, give a thrill, gladden, glamour, grab,
grip, hold, hold in thrall, hold spellbound, hold the interest,
hypnotize, immerse, imparadise, impress, infatuate,
inflame with love, influence, interest, intoxicate, intrigue,
invite, involve, involve in, involve the interest, knock dead,
knock out, magnetize, mesmerize, monopolize, obsess, occupy,
occupy the attention, pique, please, preoccupy, provoke, ravish,
rejoice, seduce, send, slay, spell, spellbind, stimulate, strike,
sway, take, take up, tantalize, tempt, thrill, tickle, tickle pink,
titillate, touch, transfix, transport, vamp, wile, witch, wow
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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