magnetize

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Old French magnetebor. Pre-Greekbor.? Ancient Greek Μάγνης (Mágnēs) Ancient Greek μᾰ́γνης (mắgnēs)bor. Latin magnēsbor. Middle English magnete English magnet Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English magnetize From magnet + -ize.

1. To make magnetic.
2. To become magnetic.
3. To hypnotize using mesmerism.

   “c. 1789, Elizabeth Inchbald, Animal Magnetism: A Farce, Dublin, P. Byron, Act III, p. 82, Lisette let him alone, it is dangerous to push the poor creature to extremities, Doctor, suppose we Magnetize him?”

   “Dr. Bertrand tells us that the first patient he ever magnetized, being attacked by a disease of an hysterical character, became subject to convulsions of so long duration and so violent in character, that he had never, in all his practice, seen the like […]”

4. To attract, allure or entice; to captivate or entrance.

   “As for Dudley Venner, no beauty in all the world could have so soothed and magnetized him as the very repose and subdued gentleness which the Widow had thought would make the best possible background for her own more salient and effective attractions.”

   “Mr. Hamlin’s hand passed carressingly twice or thrice along her sleeve with a peculiar gentleness that seemed to magnetize her.”