Attracting and holding attention through charm or appeal. Fascinating or enchanting in a way that captures interest completely.
From Latin captivare 'to take captive', from captivus 'prisoner', from capere 'to take, seize'. The metaphorical sense of 'capturing' attention developed from the literal meaning of taking prisoners. The word evolved to describe the voluntary surrender of attention rather than forced captivity.
The word 'captivating' reveals how we conceptualize attention as something that can be captured, held, and possessed - we use military metaphors for mental engagement, speaking of 'capturing' interest and 'holding' attention as if consciousness were territory to be conquered.
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