fascinate

• vt. 使着迷，使神魂颠倒
• vi. 入迷

来自拉丁语fascis, 带子，绷带，缘自古罗马时期的生殖器崇拜文化，人们把一根男性生殖器(fascinum)状的器具作为护身符随身携带，同时，巫师对该物念动咒语以唤醒其神力和召唤生育神(Fascinus)的保护。引申词义着迷，入魔。

fascinate

fascinate: [16] To fascinate somebody is literally to ‘bewitch’ them. The word comes from the past participle of the Latin verb fascināre, which was a derivative of fascinum ‘witchcraft’. The Roman phallic deity, incidentally, was named Fascinus, because an amulet in the shape of a penis was hung around children’s necks in ancient times to ward off evil spells.

fascinate (v.)

1590s, "bewitch, enchant," from Middle French fasciner (14c.), from Latin fascinatus, past participle of fascinare "bewitch, enchant, fascinate," from fascinus "a charm, enchantment, spell, witchcraft," which is of uncertain origin. Earliest used of witches and of serpents, who were said to be able to cast a spell by a look that rendered one unable to move or resist. Sense of "delight, attract and hold the attention of" is first recorded 1815.

To fascinate is to bring under a spell, as by the power of the eye; to enchant and to charm are to bring under a spell by some more subtle and mysterious power. [Century Dictionary]

Possibly from Greek baskanos "slander, envy, malice," later "witchcraft, sorcerery," with form influenced by Latin fari "speak" (see fame (n.)), but others say the resemblance of the Latin and Greek words is accidental. The Greek word might be from a Thracian equivalent of Greek phaskein "to say;" compare enchant, and German besprechen "to charm," from sprechen "to speak." Watkins suggests the Latin word is perhaps from PIE *bhasko- "band, bundle" via a connecting sense of "amulet in the form of a phallus" (compare Latin fascinum "human penis; artificial phallus; dildo"). Related: Fascinated; fascinating.

If [baskanos] and fascinum are indeed related, they would point to a meaning 'curse, spell' in a loanword from an unknown third language. [de Vaan]

1. I believed devoutly in her power to fascinate him, in her dazzling loveliness.

我由衷地相信她有使他神魂颠倒的力量, 相信她有令人眼花缭乱的姿色.

来自辞典例句

2. How can the comets , asteroids and meteorites , which fascinate us , kill us?

随着太阳的不断扩张, 太阳系中其它的星球将发生怎样的变化?

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3. The cute aspect that she read the cartoon book fascinate me.

看到她上课时看漫画时可爱的样子我都着迷.

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4. These things never get old , and always manage to fascinate.

这些东西从来不会过时, 并且一直创新着.

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5. The place continues to fascinate visitors, cloaked in its mystery.

这个地方笼罩在神秘气氛下,继续使游览者着迷.

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