Enthral
/ɪnˈθrɔːl/noun
To capture the attention or imagination completely; to enslave or hold in bondage.
Did you know?Enthrall is tied to Old English þræl, meaning a slave or servant, so the word’s oldest power is not romance — it’s captivity.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
þræl
“a slave, bondman, or servant”
Middle English
ME
thrall
“a slave or person in bondage; also, captivity”
Late Middle English
ME
enthrallen
“to make a thrall; to enslave”
16th Century
English
enthrall
“to bring under control or spell; to captivate”
Modern English
English
enthral
“to hold spellbound or deeply fascinated”