Put someone into a trance-like state where they're highly susceptible to suggestion; or completely fascinated or captivated by something.
From Greek 'hypnos' (sleep) plus '-tise' (verb-forming suffix). The term was coined in the 1840s by Scottish surgeon James Braid to describe the phenomenon he called 'neuro-hypnosis,' blending sleep and nervous control.
Hypnosis remains scientifically mysterious—brain imaging shows hypnotised people have different activation patterns, but whether it's a unique state or just deep concentration and roleplay is still debated; what we know is it definitely works for reducing pain and anxiety, which ancient cultures achieved through meditation and ritual.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.