Infatuation
/ˌɪn.fætʃ.uˈeɪ.ʃən/noun
A state of intense but short-lived passion or admiration, often without clear judgment.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin roots tied to *fatuus* (“foolish, silly”), so its oldest sense is literally about being made foolish rather than being romantically enchanted.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
infatuare
“to make foolish, to delude”
Late Latin
Latin
infatuationem
“the act or state of making foolish”
16th Century
English
infatuation
“foolishness, delusion”
18th Century
English
infatuation
“a foolish or extravagant passion”
Modern English
English
infatuation
“intense but usually short-lived romantic or emotional attraction”