Fascinations

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A strong and intense interest in something, often leading to deep exploration or admiration through study or observation
2. An attraction that captivates one's attention and can consume considerable time and energy
3. Enthralled engagement with a subject or object that sparks curiosity and persistent inquiry

Etymology: "Fascinations" is simply the plural of "fascination," so its story is the story of the singular noun. The root is Latin "fascinare," meaning "to bewitch," and the Latin verb is often traced to Ancient Greek "baskaínein," which meant "to speak ill of" or "to curse." The idea underlying the chain is that a hostile look or spoken curse could cast a spell on its victim, so the earliest sense of enthrallment was literally being put under a magical charm. The English noun is built from "fascinate," the verb borrowed from that Latin root, plus the suffix "-ion," which turns a verb into a noun of action or state. Over time the magical sense faded, and "fascination" came to describe a feeling of being held by something, whether a person, an idea, or an object. The plural "fascinations" simply counts separate objects of that absorbing attention, such as several subjects a person finds captivating.

Synonyms: captivations, enthrallments, allurements, charms, attractions