To bewitch, enchant, or captivate someone completely with a powerful attraction or spell.
From Latin 'ex-' (thoroughly) combined with 'fascinare' (to bewitch, from 'fascis' meaning bundle or rod). The 'ex-' intensifies the bewitching action, suggesting total captivation.
The root 'fascis' (bundle) gave us 'fascism,' but it originally referred to a rod used in Roman authority—the same root underlies the magical power to 'bind' or 'bundle' someone's attention. This word captures that sense of irresistible bundling of focus.
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