Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

fascinate

/ˈfæsɪneɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.51 in modern English

Syllables: fas-ci-nate
IPA: /ˈfæsɪneɪt/

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.

verb

To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind.

verb

To be irresistibly charming or attractive to.

Example Sentences

"The flickering TV fascinated the cat."
"We were fascinated by the potter's skill."
"Leo, too, was strangely touched. Hitherto he had been fascinated against his better judgment, something as a bird is fascinated by a snake, but now I think that all this passed away, and he realised that he really loved this strange and glorious creature, as, alas! I loved her also."
"Her gait fascinates all men."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), itself of obscure origin.

Inflected Forms

fascinates (present, singular) fascinating (participle, present) fascinated (participle, past) fascinated (past)

Derived Forms

fascinated fascinating fascinator fascinoma refascinate unfascinating

Frequently Paired Words

fascination

Synonyms

capture enamour trance catch becharm enamor captivate beguile charm bewitch entrance enchant

Rhymes With

assassinate

Questions

How do you pronounce fascinate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfæsɪneɪt/.
What does fascinate mean?: To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
Where does fascinate come from?: Borrowed from Latin fascinātus, perfect passive participle of fascinō (“to enchant, bewitch, fascinate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from fascinum (“a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck in Ancient Rome; witchcraft”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix), itself of obscure origin.

How to pronounce fascinate

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