mesmerism
/ˈmɛzməˌrɪzəm/
noun
- A strong, hypnotic power or influence that attracts or fascinates people.
- The old storyteller had a natural mesmerism that captivated children and adults alike.
- The speaker's mesmerism held the audience completely silent for an hour.
- There was a kind of mesmerism in her voice that made everyone want to listen.
- A historical practice of inducing a trance-like state, similar to hypnotism, developed by Franz Mesmer.
- Many people were skeptical of mesmerism, calling it a form of trickery rather than medicine.
- The book describes how mesmerism became popular in European courts before modern hypnotism was understood.
- In the 18th century, mesmerism was used by some doctors to treat patients with mysterious illnesses.
Synonyms