The history of enthrall appeals far less than the word as we use it today might suggest. In Middle English, enthrallen meant “to deprive of privileges; to put in bondage.” Thrall then, as now, referred to bondage or slavery. An early figurative use of enthrall appeared in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.” But we rarely use even this sense of mental or moral control anymore. More often, the word simply suggests a state of being generally captivated or delighted by some particular thing. Enthrall is commonly found in its past participle form enthralled, which can mean “spellbound,” as in “we listened, enthralled, to the elder's oral history.”
enthralled by the flickering fire in the hearth, we lost all track of time
for years these master magicians have been enthralling audiences with their astounding illusions
Recent Examples on the WebThe universe is bolstering your ability to enthrall an audience, thanks to today’s Full Moon in your 5th House of Creativity.—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2024 Lady Whistledown, the pseudonymous author of the popular gossip pages that enthrall the ton and serve as the show’s framing device, is really the pen name of Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan), another young woman who’d long been overlooked by potential suitors.—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024 Indeed, the versatility of the island’s landscapes continues to enthrall even local filmmakers and directors.—Becky Lucas, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Also: O’Connor’s wardrobe will delight and enthrall the menswear enthusiast in your life.—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for enthrall
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enthrall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Share