fascinate - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: fascinate

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

fas·ci·nate

Audio Help [fas-uh-neyt] Pronunciation Key verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall: a vivacity that fascinated the audience.

2.	to arouse the interest or curiosity of; allure.

3.	to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror: The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.

4.	Obsolete. to bewitch.

5.	Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.

–verb (used without object)

6.	to capture the interest or hold the attention.

[Origin: 1590–1600; < L fascinātus, ptp. of fascināre to bewitch, cast a spell on, v. deriv. of fascinum evil spell, bewitchment

]

—Related forms

fas·ci·nat·ed·ly, adverb

fas·ci·na·tive, adjective

—Synonyms 1. bewitch, enchant, spellbind, charm.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
fascinate

To learn more about fascinate visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

fas·ci·nate Audio Help   (fās'ə-nāt') Pronunciation Key
v.   fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing, fas·ci·nates

v.   tr.

To hold an intense interest or attraction for. See Synonyms at charm.
To hold motionless; spellbind.
Obsolete To bewitch.

v. intr.
To be irresistibly charming or attractive.

[Latin fascināre, fascināt-, to cast a spell on, from fascinum, an evil spell, a phallic-shaped amulet.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fascinate

1598, "bewitch, enchant," from M.Fr. fasciner, from L. fascinatus, pp. of fascinare "bewitch, enchant," from fascinus "spell, witchcraft," of uncertain origin. Possibly from Gk. baskanos "bewitcher, sorcerer," with form influenced by L. fari "speak" (see fame). The Gk. word may be from a Thracian equivalent of Gk. phaskein "to say;" cf. also enchant, and Ger. besprechen "to charm," from sprechen "to speak." Earliest used of witches and of serpents, who were said to be able to cast a spell by a look that rendered one unable to move or resist. Sense of "delight, attract" is first recorded 1815.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

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"
3.	attract; cause to be enamored; "She captured all the men's hearts"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
fascinate [ˈfӕsineit] verb

to charm; to attract or interest very strongly
Example: She was fascinated by the strange clothes and customs of the country people.

Arabic:	يَسْحَر، يَفْتَن
Chinese (Simplified):	迷住，使神魂颠倒
Chinese (Traditional):	迷住，使神魂顛倒
Czech:	fascinovat, okouzlit
Danish:	fascinere; betage
Dutch:	fascineren
Estonian:	kütkestama
Finnish:	kiehtoa
French:	fasciner
German:	faszinieren
Greek:	γοητεύω, συναρπάζω
Hungarian:	elkápráztat
Icelandic:	hrífa, heilla
Indonesian:	mempesona
Italian:	affascinare

Japanese:	魅了する
Korean:	매혹하다, 주의를 끌다
Latvian:	apburt; valdzināt
Lithuanian:	žavėti, traukti
Norwegian:	fascinere, fengsle
Polish:	oczarować
Portuguese (Brazil):	fascinar
Portuguese (Portugal):	fascinar
Romanian:	a fascina
Russian:	пленять
Slovak:	očariť
Slovenian:	očarati
Spanish:	fascinar
Swedish:	fascinera
Turkish:	büyülemek, hayran bırakmak

See also: fascinating, fascination

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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 bewhich but love and envy. --Bacon.

Syn: To charm; enrapture; captivate; enchant; bewitch; attract.

Browse Nearby Entries: