enthralledadj.
/ᵻnˈθrɔːld/, /ɛnˈθrɔːld/, U.S. /ᵻnˈθrɔld/, /ɛnˈθrɔld/, /ᵻnˈθrɑld/, /ɛnˈθrɑld/ 1.
a. Mentally, morally, or emotionally subjugated or controlled, as by sorcery, seduction, etc., or by positive qualities such as beauty and charm. In predicative use frequently with with or (formerly) †to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective] > attracted to
taken1535
enthralleda1652
1583 R. P. tr. P. de la Sierra Second Pt. Myrror of Knighthood iv. f. 18 The inthralled knight with a deepe sigh awaking.
1588 A. Munday tr. C. Colet Famous Hist. Palladine Eng. xxiv. f. 49v There I became immediatly enthralled with her loue.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 132 Loue hath chas'd sleepe from my enthralled eyes.
a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) ix. v. 405 The free-born Soul..never more slides and degenerates from it self, then when it becomes enthrall'd to some Particular interest.
a1777 J. White Adventures King Richard (1791) I. vi. 54 Her for whom my enthralled heart now burns with an ardour triumphant.
1864 W. G. Wills Wife's Evid. III. iv. 128 Every sentence seemed a nail driven into her heart; and she became horribly enthralled.
1909 Munsey's Mag. Mar. 832/2 There is no doubt that she met every mood of Antony's, so that he became enthralled with her at once.
1953 A. Miller Crucible (1956) i. 32 The Church's enemies relied no less upon the Old Boy to keep the human mind enthralled.
1967 F. A. Collymore in Bim (Barbados) 11 294 Here was the living image of his dreams..fairy-like, ethereal..her dark eyes shining, her lips smiling, smiling so tenderly, so ravishingly..as though to meet his enthralled regard.
2006 Time Out N.Y. 20 July 152/1 But if the series's sugar-cereal spell still has you enthralled, this set is pure Saturday-morning nirvana.
b. Deeply interested in someone or something; captivated, fascinated; spellbound. In predicative use frequently with with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > [adjective] > pleased or filled with pleasure > charmed or captivated
allaqueate1535
enamorate1599
uptaken1605
enthralled1843
captivated1888
charmed1889
1843 Q. Rev. Mar. 455 Maintain the mute attention of an enthralled audience.
1887 E. P. Jackson Demigod xiv. 196 Like the enthralled reader of a tale, she felt that she could not lay down the volume.
1922 Argosy-Allstory Weekly 11 Feb. 607/2 He has got dad enthralled with his talk of wonderful rubies in some burial caves in Borneo.
1964 R. D. Abrahams Deep down in Jungle ii. v. 227 The enthralled listener is supposed to ask, ‘What happened?!’
2000 J. Cummings World Food: Thailand 101 As Thailand enjoyed steady double-digit economic growth, a whole new generation of young working Thais became enthralled with imported wines.
2015 Straits Times (Singapore) (Nexis) 1 Aug. The orchestra made its debut yesterday, playing five songs to an enthralled audience.
c. Originally U.S. In weakened use: excited, thrilled, delighted. In predicative use frequently with about, with, or infinitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > joy, gladness, or delight > [adjective]
fainc888
gladlyc1000
golikc1175
gladful?c1225
joyfulc1290
joyousc1315
merryc1380
well begonea1425
frikec1430
rejoiced1533
delightful1534
rejoiceful1538
blitheful1559
gladded1569
blithelike1570
delighted1581
lighted1596
delighting1601
joyed1640
enjoying1651
gladdened1729
glad1799
like (or proud as) a dog with two tails1829
joyant1834
bird-blithe1917
gassed1941
enthralled1944
1944 Daily Herald (Gulfport & Biloxi, Mississippi) 26 Feb. 9/6 I've read some history on this section of the state and hence am enthralled about seeing the place.
1977 Washington Post 11 June a3/1 The President has reportedly picked a Republican for a top patronage-dispensing job... Democrats on the Hill are less than enthralled with the expected Carlucci nomination.
2003 Sunday Tel. (Sydney) (Nexis) 5 Oct. i28 P&O Cruises is so enthralled about the Star Princess's size it has released a series of photos comparing the ship with some of the world's ancient and modern icons.
2011 S. Turner Harnessing Horsepower xi. 63 Pat was not enthralled to find she was carrying the extra weight of things like carpets, headrests, and other bits and pieces.
2. That has been made a thrall or slave; that is under the rule or authority of another; enslaved; subjugated. In predicative use frequently with to.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > slavery or bondage > [adjective] > enslaved or in bondage
theowc888
thrall1297
bond1330
unfreec1380
servile1447
boundenc1480
thralled1527
bound1532
thirl1582
enthralled?1587
slaved1639
beslaved1656
enslaved1667
bondaged1790
unemancipated1811
?1587 R. Southwell Epist. Comfort viii. f. 105v To vncheyne not onlye the fast bound bodyes, but the enthralled & captiue soules.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. ii. 59 The enthralled debtors..were immediatlie by name enrolled.
1647 N. Bacon Hist. Disc. Govt. lxvii. 253 Shattered asunder by broiles of Civill wars, the free men..are now become weake, and almost inthralled to the lust of Kings, Lords, Pope, and English Clergy.
a1678 A. Marvell Oceana & Britannia in Fourth Coll. Poems (1689) 6 I saw a Cherub stand A-cross my Seas, one Foot upon the Land, Th'other on the enthralled Gallick Shore.
1734 N. Markwick Some Addit. Notes Elucidation Apocalyptick Visions (new ed.) 125 The long inthralled, exiled Church had late forgot her Liberty.
1797 E. Burke Third Let. Peace Regicide Directory France 47 With an enthralled world to labour for them.
1883 W. Hoyt Gleams from Paul's Prison iii. 60 A man like Nero, or some enthralled creature of his.
1929 Country Life 17 Aug. 213/1 They [sc. the foster-parents of a young cuckoo] are the enthralled slaves of the orange-throated little monster.
1975 Ebony Aug. 88/1 Opportunities for the socialization of blacks and for the humanization of the whites who held them enthralled.
2012 Financial Times 24 Mar. (Life & Arts section) 11/3 The 13 maidens enthralled to the wicked wizard Kaschei are mild and virginal, playing catch with apples.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1583