enraptured
UK[ɪnˈræptʃəd]US[ɪnˈræptʃərd]
adj
filled with great pleasure and delight; completely captivated.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
rapt
ured
en
in, into, to put into a state
rapt
seized, carried away
ured
Etymology
the word 'enraptured' is built upon the core latin root 'rapt', from 'rapere', meaning 'to seize or carry off'. this root is also the source of words like 'rapture' and 'rapid'. the prefix 'en-' was added in english, borrowed from french, to signify 'into the state of'. thus, the literal sense is 'put into a state of being seized or carried away'. over time, the violent connotation of seizure softened, evolving into the modern abstract meaning of being completely carried away by intense joy or delight.
Analysis
Structure: en + rapt + ured
en- (latin, via french, a prefix meaning 'in, into, to put into a state'); rapt (latin, past participle of 'rapere', meaning 'seized, carried away'); -ured (english, a suffix forming the past participle of verbs, here indicating a state).
Examples
the audience was enraptured by the violinist's breathtaking performance.
she stood enraptured, gazing at the sunset over the mountains.
his enraptured expression showed how deeply the story had moved him.