mesmerism

[mez-muh-riz-uh m, mes-] /ˈmɛz məˌrɪz əm, ˈmɛs-/
noun
1.
hypnosis as induced, according to F. A. Mesmer, through animal magnetism.
2.
hypnotism.
3.
a compelling attraction; fascination.
Origin
1775-85; Mesmer + -ism
Related forms
mesmerist, noun
Examples from the web for mesmerism
  • Above all, it's a moving manifesto for the mesmerism of the paper page in the age of e-everything.
  • Many observers felt that his results were due to suggestion, and the terms hypnosis and mesmerism became intertwined.
British Dictionary definitions for mesmerism

mesmerism

/ˈmɛzməˌrɪzəm/
noun (psychol)
1.
a hypnotic state induced by the operator's imposition of his will on that of the patient
2.
an early doctrine concerning this
Derived Forms
mesmerist, noun
Word Origin
C19: named after F. A. Mesmer (1734–1815), Austrian physician
Word Origin and History for mesmerism
n.

"hypnotism," 1802, from French mesmérisme, named for Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), Austrian physician who developed a theory of animal magnetism and a mysterious body fluid which allows one person to hypnotize another. Related: Mesmerist.

mesmerism in Medicine

mesmerism mes·mer·ism (měz'mə-rĭz'əm, měs'-)
n.

  1. A strong or spellbinding appeal; fascination.

  2. Hypnotic induction that is believed to involve animal magnetism.

  3. Hypnotism.