spellbind

[ spel-bahynd ]

verb (used with object)

, spell·bound, spell·bind·ing.

1. to hold or bind by or as if by a spell; enchant; entrance; fascinate.

spellbind

/ ˈspɛlˌbaɪnd /

verb

1. tr to cause to be spellbound; entrance or enthral

Other Words From

• spellbinding·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spellbind¹

1800–10; spell ² + bind, deduced from spellbound

Example Sentences

Nickel Creek played an intimate warmup show at Largo at the Coronet for a lucky crowd Wednesday that piled into the L.A. theater for a night of skillful, spellbinding folk music.

From Los Angeles Times

Long believed to have been the inspiration for the school in Harry Potter, George Heriot’s has stood for nearly 400 years, commanding spellbinding views of Edinburgh Castle and accruing an impressive alumni.

From BBC

You might be wondering: Is Kings Canyon’s landscape as spellbindingly majestic?

From Los Angeles Times

Their presence would also augment a spellbinding stop in a journey that dates back to 1982 when one of the first groups of breakers made their Paris debut.

From Salon

The camera jumped to Ms. Jarrett, outside a Manhattan courthouse, who over the next 87 spellbinding seconds read off each count, one by one, followed by the same two-syllable verdict:

From New York Times

Related Words

• bewitch
• ensorcell
• mesmerize