 |
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Fascinate \Fas"ci*nate\, verb (used with an object) [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.
It has been almost universally believed that . . . serpents can stupefy and fascinate the prey which they are desirous to obtain. --Griffith (Cuvier).
2. To excite and allure irresistibly or powerfully; to charm; to captivate, as by physical or mental charms.
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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
fascinate
verb
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}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
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
 |
Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |