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fascinate

[ fas-uh-neyt ]
/ ˈfæs əˌneɪt /
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See synonyms for: fascinate / fascinated / fascinates / fascinating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall: His natural vivacity fascinates and dominates his audience, leading them wherever he will.
to arouse the interest or curiosity of: As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.
to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror: The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.
Obsolete. to bewitch.
Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.
verb (used without object), fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
to capture the interest or hold the attention.
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Origin of fascinate

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin fascinātus, past participle of fascināre “to bewitch, cast a spell on,” verbal derivative of fascinum “evil spell, bewitchment”

OTHER WORDS FROM fascinate

fas·ci·na·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use fascinate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fascinate

fascinate
/ (ˈfæsɪˌneɪt) /

verb (mainly tr)
to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosityhis stories fascinated me for hours
to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
archaic to put under a spell

Derived forms of fascinate

fascinatedly, adverbfascination, nounfascinative, adjective

Word Origin for fascinate

C16: from Latin fascināre, from fascinum a bewitching

usage for fascinate

A person can be fascinated by or with another person or thing. It is correct to speak of someone's fascination with a person or thing; one can also say a person or thing has a fascination for someone
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
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