verb

mesmerize

mesmerise, fascinate, captivate, hypnotise

The magician's performance mesmerized the audience.

The magician's performance mesmerised the audience.

I was mesmerized by her beautiful voice.

I was mesmerised by her beautiful voice.

((sb./sth.)) to hold the complete attention of (sb.) The magician's performance mesmerised the audience.

Synonyms: fascinate, captivate, enthrall, hypnotise

Named after Franz Mesmer, an 18th-century German physician who used 'animal magnetism' for healing.

Picture Dr. Mesmer putting a patient into a trance. It means to hold someone's attention so completely that they can't think of anything else.

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