fascinated
UK[ˈfæsɪneɪtɪd]US[ˈfæsəˌneɪt̬ɪd]
adj
extremely interested and attracted, holding one's complete attention
Morpheme Breakdown
fascin
ate
ed
fascin
to enchant
ate
verb suffix
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'fascinated' has its roots in the latin verb fascinare, 'to bewitch or enchant', which itself is derived from fascinum, meaning a 'spell' or 'witchcraft'. this concept was linked to the evil eye and the power to hold someone captive through magical means. over time, the literal sense of magical enchantment softened into a metaphorical one, describing the state of being irresistibly captivated or intensely interested. the modern spelling and adjectival form were cemented through the addition of the english participial suffix -ed to the verb 'fascinate', creating a word that describes being held spellbound, not by magic, but by profound interest or allure.
Analysis
Structure: fascin (to enchant) + ate (verb suffix) + ed (adjective suffix)
fascin originates from latin fascinare, meaning 'to bewitch or enchant'. the suffix -ate is a latin-derived verb-forming suffix. the suffix -ed is an english past participle/adjective-forming suffix.
Examples
the children were fascinated by the story the teacher told.
she has always been fascinated with how the human brain works.
i watched, fascinated, as the artist transformed a lump of clay into a beautiful vase.