captivate
[ kap-tuh-veyt ]
/ ˈkæp təˌveɪt /
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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
captation, captcha, caption, captious, captiously, captivate, captivating, captive, captive audience, captive market, captivity
Origin of captivate
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for captivator
His errand was to produce a deadly quarrel between the captive soul and the wicked one, its captivator.
The Parables of Our Lord|William ArnotShe's a dressmaker by trade, she says; and a captivator of foolish young men by nature—don't go anigh her.
All Sorts and Conditions of Men|Walter Besant
British Dictionary definitions for captivator
captivate
/ (ˈkæptɪˌveɪt) /
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
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Word Origin and History for captivator
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper