mesmerism
UK[ˈmɛzmərɪzəm]US[ˈmɛzməˌrɪzəm]
n
A strong or hypnotic power held over someone, as if by hypnosis.
n
The therapeutic system of treating diseases by hypnotic suggestion, as practiced by Franz Mesmer.
Morpheme Breakdown
mesmer
ism
mesmer
proper name
ism
doctrine, practice
Etymology
The word is an eponym, directly derived from the surname of the 18th-century German physician Franz Anton Mesmer. He developed a theory of "animal magnetism," a supposed invisible natural force that he believed could be used to treat illness through trance-like states. The suffix "-ism," of Greek origin, was appended to his name to form a noun denoting his specific doctrine and its associated practices. Over time, as Mesmer's theories were discredited, the term's meaning broadened to describe any compelling, hypnotic influence, shifting from a specific medical system to a more general metaphorical concept.
Analysis
Structure: mesmer (proper name) + ism (doctrine, practice)
mesmer (from Franz Mesmer, surname of German origin); ism (suffix from Greek -ismos, via Latin and French, forming nouns denoting a system, principle, or practice).
Examples
The cult leader held the followers in a state of complete mesmerism.
In the 19th century, mesmerism was a popular but controversial form of therapy.
She spoke with such passion that her audience fell under a kind of mesmerism.