To treat something as if it has magical powers or to become obsessed with something in an irrational way.
From 'fetich' (Portuguese 'feitiço') plus the suffix '-ize' meaning 'to make or become.' This verb form allowed the concept to describe an action rather than just a state, emerging in the 19th century to describe the psychological process of attribution.
Karl Marx actually borrowed this word to describe how capitalism makes us fetichize commodities—we fall in love with products and forget about the workers who made them. It's a brilliant way to describe how objects get false magical importance in our minds!
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