Skip to content
word of the day

The word for today is…

mesmerize (US) or mesmerise (Queen’s English) (verb) – 1. To spellbind; enthrall.

  1. To hypnotize.

Source : The Free Dictionary

Etymology : Experts can’t agree on whether Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) was a quack or a genius, but all concede that the late 18th-century physician’s name is the source of the word mesmerize. In his day, Mesmer was the toast of Paris, where he enjoyed the support of notables including Queen Marie Antoinette. He treated patients with a force he termed animal magnetism. Many believe that what he actually used was what we now call hypnotism . Mesmer’s name was first applied to a technique for inducing hypnosis in 1784.

If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends.

Latest

Face of the day

Face of the day

Rennie said Savea, who he has just finished coaching at Kobe in Japan, isn’t the most loquacious player in the All Blacks, but he’s a natural leader.

Members Public
The Good Oil Word of the Day

The Good Oil Word of the Day

The word for today is… onus (noun) - 1[Latin] a: burden b: a disagreeable necessity : obligation c: blame d: stigma 2[New Latin] : burden of proof Source : Merriam-Webster Etymology : Understanding the etymology of onus shouldn’t be a burden; it’s as simple as knowing that English borrowed the

Members Public