Mesmerize

Alternative forms

• mesmerise UK

Origin

Back-formation from {{3}}, thus mesmerism + -ize; first attested in 1829.

Full definition of mesmerize

Verb

1. To exercise mesmerism on; to spellbind; to enthrall.
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 4, Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.
2. She mesmerized the audience with her tricks

Synonyms

• (exercise mesmerism on) spellbind, hypnotize, enthrall