Mesmerisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice or phenomenon of inducing a trance-like state in which a person is highly susceptible to suggestion
2. A technique involving the manipulation of attention and focus to create a heightened mental state or altered consciousness
3. The art of captivating and enchanting an individual through hypnotic influence or compelling charm

Etymology: "Mesmerisms" is the plural of "mesmerism", so it names several distinct instances or kinds of the hypnotic, captivating influence that the base word describes. The base word traces back to Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), a German physician who developed a theory he called animal magnetism, holding that an invisible fluid flowed through living bodies and could be manipulated to restore health. His name was attached to the practice, and the French form "mesmérisme" is built from his surname plus the suffix "-ism", a pattern used for doctrines and systems. Mesmer's methods, which involved passes of the hands, trances and dramatic group sessions, drew both devoted followers and sharp criticism. The word was carried into English from that French coinage, and its sense shifted from a specific medical theory toward the broader idea of a spellbinding effect that holds a person's attention or will.

Synonyms: hypnotisms, trances