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An 1849 portrait of Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815) by Jules Porreau

Etymology

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From French mesmérisme, analysable as Mesmer +‎ -ism; so called after Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), a German physician who developed the animal magnetism theory.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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mesmerism (countable and uncountable, plural mesmerisms)

  1. The method or power of gaining control over someone's personality or actions, as in hypnosis or suggestion.
    • 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 23, in Vanity Fair [], London: Bradbury and Evans [], published 1848, →OCLC:
      What is the secret mesmerism which friendship possesses, and under the operation of which a person ordinarily sluggish, or cold, or timid, becomes wise, active, and resolute, in another's behalf?
  2. The state induced by hypnotic methods (especially that of Mesmer himself).
    • 2010, Mark Twain, Autobiography of Mark Twain, volume 2, page 302:
      ...the fact stood proven that I had seen it in my vision. Lawks! ...When the magician's engagement closed there was but one person in the village who did not believe in mesmerism, and I was the one. All the others were converted, but I was to remain an implacable and unpersuadable disbeliever in mesmerism and hypnotism for close upon fifty years.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French mesmérisme.

Noun

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mesmerism n (uncountable)

  1. mesmerism

Declension

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