fascination

[ fas-uh-ney-shuhn ]

noun

1. the power or action of fascinating. fascinating.
2. the state or an instance of being fascinated:

   They watched in fascination.

3. a fascinating fascinating quality; powerful attraction; charm:

   the fascination of foreign travel.

4. Cards. a form of solitaire.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascination¹

1595–1605; < Latin fascinātiōn- (stem of fascinātiō ) a bewitching. See fascinate, -ion

Example Sentences

These stories also tend to be rehashed and retread because fame breeds fascination, of course, and name recognition helps when seeking the eyes and ears of an audience.

From New York Times

Geometric order and water’s fluid movement were special fascinations.

From Los Angeles Times

The sale demonstrates the "enduring fascination" with ill-fated the ocean liner, it added.

From BBC

"The hatred and deviant fascination the defendants have shown in relation to the cruelty and abuse towards monkeys is incomprehensible," he said.

From BBC

But, fascination aside, you might also reasonably ask why it still matters.

From BBC

Related Words

• allure
• attraction
• charm
• enchantment
• magic
• obsession