Completely absorbed by a sudden strong attraction or love for someone, often without thinking clearly about it.
From Latin 'infatuatus,' meaning foolish or stupid, combined with 'in-' (to make) and 'fatuus' (foolish). The Romans literally called this state 'being made foolish' by attraction.
The Romans had it right—they called infatuation a form of foolishness because when you're infatuated, you genuinely stop thinking clearly; neuroscience now shows that intense attraction actually reduces activity in the judgment-related parts of your brain!
Infatuation has been feminized in literature and media as a diminished, irrational female emotional state (obsessive, foolish) while male infatuation is often reframed as romantic passion or admirable devotion.
Use neutrally to describe temporary intense attraction or fascination in any person; avoid gendered diminishment of the experience.
["captivated","intensely attracted","absorbed"]
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