phreno-mesmerismn.
/ˌfriːnəʊˈmɛzmərɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌfrinoʊˈmɛzməˌrɪz(ə)m/, /ˌfrinoʊˈmɛsməˌrɪz(ə)m/ Now historical.
The supposed stimulation of the phrenological organs by mesmerism; belief in this phenomenon. Cf. phreno-magnetism n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the paranormal > [noun] > mesmerism > application to the brain
mesmero-phrenology1842
phreno-magnetism1842
phreno-mesmerism1843
1843 J. Braid Let. in Med. Times 11 Nov. 74/1 I promised to institute a farther series of experiments on the phenomena of phreno-mesmerism.
1844 J. Allison Mesmerism 23 By Phreno-mesmerism is generally understood the excitation of the phrenological organs by contact with, or pointing to, the skin or hair directly over them during the ‘mesmeric’ state.
1874 Libr. Mesmerism & Psychol. 18 Phreno-mesmerism..is but another form of simple imaginative action.
1960 R. K. Webb Harriet Martineau viii. 247 Her conversion to phreno-mesmerism dates precisely from the outburst of mesmeric enthusiasm in Britain in the late thirties.
2002 Guardian (Nexis) 18 May 9 ‘Phreno-mesmerism’ combined hypnotism and phrenology, playing the head like an emotional piano.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1843