animal magnetism

American  

noun

1. the power to attract others through one's physical presence, bearing, energy, etc.

2. the indefinite power, presumably innate in some persons, that enables one to induce hypnosis.

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animal magnetism British  

noun

1. facetious the quality of being attractive, esp to members of the opposite sex

2. obsolete hypnotism

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Etymology

Origin of animal magnetism

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Still, Poe wasn't immune to quackery himself, finding trendy pseudosciences like phrenology and animal magnetism perfectly sensible.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2021

Tenacious and tireless, Billy Graham was blessed with what more than one observer called animal magnetism.

From New York Times • May 14, 2021

This goes far deeper than the belief that powerful men project an animal magnetism under which everyone succumbs.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2018

Comedy and chemistry are not mutually exclusive, but during this opening scene of supposed animal magnetism, the spark doesn’t quite materialize.

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2015

Father said Lumumba’s party won thirty-five of a hundredy-some-odd seats in the new parliament, mainly because of his natural animal magnetism.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver