captivate

[kap-tuh-veyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR captivate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing.

to attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence; enchant: Her blue eyes and red hair captivated him.

Obsolete. to capture; subjugate.

Nearby words

Origin of captivate

1520–30; < Late Latin captīvātus (past participle of captīvāre to take captive), equivalent to Latin captīv(us) captive + -ātus -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR captivate

1. fascinate, bewitch, charm. 2. subdue.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR captivate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

cap·ti·vat·ing·ly, adverbcap·ti·va·tion, nouncap·ti·va·tive, adjectivecap·ti·va·tor, noun

un·cap·ti·vat·ed, adjectiveun·cap·ti·vat·ing, adjectiveun·cap·ti·va·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for captivation

He still acknowledged that her beauty was the most complete; but he found in Camilla a variety that was captivation.
Camilla|Fanny Burney
He knew that Clare Kenwardine was not the girl to attempt his captivation merely because he had shown himself susceptible.
Brandon of the Engineers|Harold Bindloss
And he opened his watch-case as he spoke, and displayed a small miniature in enamel, of marvellous beauty and captivation.
The Bramleighs Of Bishop's Folly|Charles James Lever
Certainly, he reflected, no preparations were in progress in this quarter for his captivation.
The Storm Centre|Charles Egbert Craddock

Manner is perhaps more seducing than mere beauty; but where they are allied, the captivation is irresistible.
Rattlin the Reefer|Edward Howard

British Dictionary definitions for captivation

captivate

verb (tr)

to hold the attention of by fascinating; enchant

an obsolete word for capture

Derived Formscaptivatingly, adverbcaptivation, nouncaptivator, noun

Word Origin for captivate

C16: from Late Latin captivāre, from captīvus captive

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for captivation

captivate

1520s, "to enthrall with charm," from Late Latin captivatus, past participle of captivare "to take, capture," from captivus (see captive). Literal sense (1550s) is rare or obsolete in English, which uses capture (q.v.). Latin captare "to take, hold" also had a transferred sense of "to entice, entrap, allure." Related: Captivated; captivating; captivatingly.