enthrall

Enthrall is a verb meaning to captivate or hold someone spellbound; it can also mean to enslave or place in bondage. In contemporary usage, the primary sense is figurative, describing the act of attracting and holding interest or attention. For example, a speaker or performance can enthrall an audience. The verb forms include enthralls (present), enthralling (present participle), and enthralled (past).

The noun form enthrall is rare in modern usage; more common is thrall, meaning a slave or a person in bondage, and the idiom in thrall, meaning under someone else’s power or influence. The related noun enthrallment denotes the state or condition of being enthralled.

Etymology and history: Enthrall originates in Middle English as enthrallen, formed with en- (“to cause to be”) attached to thral(l) from Old English þræl meaning slave, bondage. Cognates appeared in other Germanic languages, including Old Norse, reflecting the historical sense of subjugation as well as fascination.

Usage notes: In current English, enthrall is typically used in a metaphorical sense to describe something that captures or holds attention intensely. The term’s older sense of literal enslavement remains largely literary or historical. Enthralling is commonly used to describe compelling art, narrative, or scenery, while enthrallment refers to the act or condition of being enthralled.

---