The word "mesmerise" is spelled with a combination of sounds that may be tricky to spell for non-native speakers of English. In the IPA phonetic transcription, the word is spelled as /ˈmɛzməraɪz/, with the "z" sound in the middle and a final "ise" at the end. The word comes from the name of Franz Mesmer, an 18th-century German physician who believed in the power of hypnosis. Mesmerism is a technique that aims to induce a trance-like state in someone, often by using an object such as a pendulum to focus the subject's attention.
To mesmerise means to captivate, enchant, or fascinate someone to the point of entrancement. It is a verb that denotes the act of gaining complete attention and holding it in a state of spellbound fascination. When someone or something mesmerises, they command an individual's thoughts, emotions, or senses, often rendering them momentarily oblivious to their surroundings.
The term originates from the work of Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician in the 18th century, who claimed that he could elicit a trance-like state in his patients through his therapeutic techniques. Eventually, mesmerise evolved beyond its historical context and expanded in usage to describe any situation where one becomes fixated or absorbed by a person, object, idea, or performance.
Mesmerising experiences can involve a wide array of stimuli, such as a mesmerising dance performance that leaves the audience awe-struck, a gripping novel that engrosses readers until the early hours of the morning, or a charismatic speaker whose words hold a crowd in rapt attention. The power to mesmerise lies in the ability to capture the imagination and evoke intense emotions, resulting in a profound and immersive impact on the recipient.
Overall, to mesmerise is to wield an invisible force that compels individuals to suspend their normal state of consciousness and be irresistibly drawn into a captivating realm of fascination.
To influence by external agency so as to cause a state of complete insensibility, or a state of somnambulism.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "mesmerise" derived from the name of Friedrich Anton Mesmer, an 18th-century German physician. Mesmer was known for his controversial practice of mesmerism, a type of healing therapy involving the manipulation of a person's animal magnetism or life force. His method included gestures, touch, and other techniques to induce a trance-like state in patients, which he believed could cure various ailments. In the late 18th century, Mesmer's practices gained considerable attention, and his name became associated with this type of hypnotic, captivating influence. Over time, the name Mesmer became integrated into the English language, leading to the verb "mesmerise", meaning to captivate, hypnotize, or fascinate someone.