infatuate

[ verb in-fach-oo-eyt; adjective noun in-fach-oo-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·fat·u·at·ed, in·fat·u·at·ing.

1. to inspire or possess with a foolish or unreasoning passion, as of love.
2. to affect with folly; make foolish or fatuous.

adjective

1. infatuated.

noun

1. a person who is infatuated.

infatuate

verb

1. to inspire or fill with foolish, shallow, or extravagant passion
2. to cause to act foolishly

adjective

1. an archaic word for infatuated

noun

1. literary.
   a person who is infatuated

Other Words From

• in·fatu·ator noun
• self-in·fatu·ated adjective
• unin·fatu·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of infatuate¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin infatuātus, past participle of infatuāre. See in- ², fatuous, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of infatuate¹

C16: from Latin infatuāre, from in- ² + fatuus fatuous

Example Sentences

The fictional robots of cinema are useful machines with dark potential to infatuate, deceive and destroy human beings.

From The Guardian

Yet one number continues to confound and infatuate them: five.

From BusinessWeek

She remained in Paris four months, and contrived to infatuate M. Ranchi, secretary of the Venetian Embassy, an amiable and learned man.

From Project Gutenberg

To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive.

From Project Gutenberg

To make sottish; to make dull or stupid; to stupefy; to infatuate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admirer
• boyfriend
• companion
• girlfriend
• suitor
• sweetheart