Rapt

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹæpt/

Definitions

1. Completely absorbed or deeply engaged in thought or an experience
2. Totally captivated and focused on what is happening or being perceived
3. Wholly attentive and fascinated, showing strong interest or delight

Etymology: The adjective "rapt" comes from Latin "raptus," the past participle of "rapio," meaning "to seize" or "to snatch away." That violent root is a long way from the calm absorption the word describes today. In Latin, "raptus" could mean being carried off by force, and English kept some of that sense of being taken over by something outside oneself. Over time the word shifted from physical seizure to mental capture. A person who is rapt is not forcibly removed from a place but carried away in attention, held so fully by a sound, a story, or a thought that they stop noticing everything else. The image is of the mind being seized rather than the body.

Synonyms: enthralled, captivated, fascinated, absorbed, engrossed

Antonyms: disinterested, distracted, unconcerned, bored, apathetic