animal magnetism
Americannoun
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the power to attract others through one's physical presence, bearing, energy, etc.
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the indefinite power, presumably innate in some persons, that enables one to induce hypnosis.
noun
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facetious the quality of being attractive, esp to members of the opposite sex
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obsolete hypnotism
Etymology
Origin of animal magnetism
First recorded in 1775–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, Poe wasn't immune to quackery himself, finding trendy pseudosciences like phrenology and animal magnetism perfectly sensible.
From Salon • Jul. 25, 2021
The Seattle Times on June 15, 1896, played along, surely for a fee, with Herrman’s promotions: “Nearly all chronic diseases quickly yield to animal magnetism in the hands of this wonderful magnetist.”
From Seattle Times • Jan. 19, 2017
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
Her performance is one of animal magnetism, of raw emotion unfettered.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2014
The animal magnetism was coming from behind him.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
