Mesmerism n. 1. Hypnotic induction via animal magnetism. 2. Hypnotic appeal.
Mesmerism began as an 18th-century theory of "animal magnetism" associated with Franz Mesmer, and later evolved into broader language for trance, suggestion, and compelling fascination.
In contemporary usage, the word often means captivating influence: speech, music, performance, or presence that holds attention with unusual intensity.
"The real origin of the phenomena of mesmerism is the concentrated attention of the subject."
- James Braid, The Power of the Mind over the Body (1852)
Modern hypnosis research shows measurable effects on attention and pain perception, demonstrating that focused suggestion can alter subjective experience in reliable ways.
a steady focus trims the drifting din away,
and scattered thoughts fall back into array;
Mesmerism is in the mind,
leaving monkey mind behind.