Fascinating

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈfæsɪˌneɪtɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Holding attention completely because it is very interesting or charming
2. Attracting and maintaining interest through unusual or appealing qualities
3. Causing great interest or delight that engrosses the observer

Etymology: The verb "fascinate" comes from Latin "fascinare", meaning to bewitch or enchant, and the Romans' root for it was "fascinum", a phallus-shaped amulet hung around the neck, believed to ward off the evil eye. The idea behind the magic was that a hostile glare could cast a spell, so the charm was there to turn that gaze aside. To fascinate, then, originally meant to put someone under a spell, and the sense of irresistibly drawing the eye survives in the modern meaning. The "-ate" ending is the standard Latin verb-forming suffix, so the English verb carries the classical structure intact.

Synonyms: captivating, intriguing, engaging

Antonyms: boring, uninteresting