trance

¹

[ trans, trahns ]

noun

1. a half-conscious state, seemingly between sleeping and waking, in which ability to function voluntarily may be suspended.
2. a dazed or bewildered condition.
3. a state of complete mental absorption or deep musing.
4. an unconscious, cataleptic, or hypnotic condition.
5. Spiritualism. a temporary state in which a medium, with suspension of personal consciousness, is controlled by an intelligence from without and used as a means of communication, as from the dead.

verb (used with object)

, tranced, tranc·ing.

1. to put in a trance; stupefy.
2. to entrance; enrapture.

trance

²

or transe

[ trahns ]

noun

1. a passageway, as a hallway, alley, or the like.

verb (used without object)

, tranced, tranc·ing.

1. to move or walk rapidly or briskly.

trance

/ trɑːns /

noun

1. a hypnotic state resembling sleep
2. any mental state in which a person is unaware or apparently unaware of the environment, characterized by loss of voluntary movement, rigidity, and lack of sensitivity to external stimuli
3. a dazed or stunned state
4. a state of ecstasy or mystic absorption so intense as to cause a temporary loss of consciousness at the earthly level
5. spiritualism a state in which a medium, having temporarily lost consciousness, can supposedly be controlled by an intelligence from without as a means of communication with the dead
6. a type of electronic dance music with repetitive rhythms, aiming at a hypnotic effect

verb

1. tr to put into or as into a trance

Derived Forms

• ˈtranceˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• tranced·ly [transt, -lee, tran, -sid-lee], adverb
• trancelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trance¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English traunce, trauns(e), “state of extreme dread, swoon, dazed state,” from Old French transe “passage (from life to death),” derivative of transir “to go across, pass over,” from Latin trānsīre, equivalent to trāns- trans- + īre “to go”

Origin of trance²

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain; perhaps shortening of transit ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of trance¹

C14: from Old French transe , from transir to faint, pass away, from Latin trānsīre to go over, from trans- + īre to go

Example Sentences

“I elicited the services of a hypnotist to help get into a trance state,” the actor said.

From Los Angeles Times

After singing on dozens of trance anthems in the 1990s, she was signed to Kylie's then-label, DeConstruction Records.

From BBC

“As a child, I remember hearing the pots and smelling the food, and kind of like someone in a trance, I would walk into the kitchen to see all this incredible stuff happening,” Harris said.

From Los Angeles Times

His head fell sideways in a trance and he spun and spun and spun, held up by the hand of God.

From Literature

The album is filled with mantras and other sonic tools she uses in her own spiritual practice as a way to induce trance and lead people into the dreamworld.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coma
• rapture
• reverie
• stupor
• unconsciousness