v.
Pronunciation: ' fa-s ə - ˌ n ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: fas · ci · nat · ed ; fas · ci · nat · ing \ ' fas- ˌ n ā -ti ŋ , ' fa-s ə - ˌ n ā - \
Etymology: Latin fascinatus, past participle of fascinare, from fascinum evil spell
Date: 1598
transitive verb
1 obsolete : BEWITCH
2 a : to transfix and hold spellbound by an irresistible power <believed that the serpent could fascinate its prey> b : to command the interest of : ALLURE <was fascinated by carnivals>
intransitive verb : to be irresistibly attractive <the novel's flamboyant cover fascinate s >
synonyms see ATTRACT