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.
[fas-uh-neyt] 
verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.