mesmerize

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɛzməɹaɪz/^[1]

Etymology

A back-formation from mesmerism,^[2] formed from mesmer(ism) with -ize.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first meant to put someone into a mesmeric or hypnotic state.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The transferred sense “to spellbind, fascinate” is attested by 1862,^[2] and is now the usual meaning.^[5]

Timeline

• 1819 – first recorded, according to Etymonline.^[2]
• 1829 – first quotations in the OED, and Merriam-Webster also dates it 1829.^[4][6]
• 1862 – “to enthrall”.^[2]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To hold spellbound; to fascinate.^[5][6][3][1]
2. To hypnotize.^[5][6][3]

Word family

• mesmerization
• mesmerizer

Related words

• mesmerism
• hypnotize

References

1. [1] [2] Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. [1] [2] [3] Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
4. [1] [2] Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. [1] [2] [3] The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Boston: Houghton Mifflin
6. [1] [2] [3] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster