Enthrallment

Enthrallment refers to the state of being enthralled, or to the act of captivating, mesmerizing, or charming someone. In contemporary usage, to enthrall is to hold someone spellbound or deeply interested. The noun form, enthrallment, denotes this condition or the experience of being influenced in such a way. Historically, the term can also mean bondage or servitude under a lord.

Etymology and usage: Enthrall derives from the older notion of thrall, a slave or bound servant, with the sense of binding under control. In modern English, the primary sense is figurative—someone or something enthralls an audience, a reader, or a spectator. The noun enthrallment is now relatively uncommon and most often appears in literary or historical contexts to describe servitude or the act of enthralling.

Contexts and notes: In literature and rhetoric, enthrallment emphasizes intense appeal, often with positive connotations of wonder or admiration. In legal or historical discussions, enthrallment may refer to true bondage or feudal obligation. The verb forms include enthrall and, less commonly, enthral; the noun forms enthrallment or enthralment appear in older texts.