The state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror).

synonym: captivation.

Roget 824: excitation of feeling; mental excitement; suscitation^†, galvanism, stimulation, piquance, piquancy, provocation, inspiration, calling forth, infection; animation, agitation, perturbation; subjugation, fascination, intoxication; enravishment^†; entrancement; pressure, tension, high pressure.    unction, impressiveness etc. adj.. trail of temper, casus belli [Lat.]; irritation etc. (anger) 900; passion etc. (state of excitability) 825; thrill etc. (feeling) 821; repression of feeling etc. 826; sensationalism, yellow journalism.    ... show more

Roget 825: excitability, impetuosity, vehemence; boisterousness etc. adj.; turbulence; impatience, intolerance, nonendurance^†; irritability etc. (irascibility) 901; itching etc. (desire) 865; wincing; disquiet, disquietude; restlessness; fidgets, fidgetiness; agitation etc. (irregular motion) 315.    trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry, fuss, flurry; fluster, flutter; pother, stew, ferment; whirl; buck fever; hurry-skurry^†, thrill etc. (feeling) 821; state of excitement, fever of excitement; transport.    passion, excitement, flush, heat; fever, heat; fire, flame, fume, blood boiling; tumult; effervescence, ebullition; boiling over; whiff, gust, story, tempest; scene, breaking out, burst, fit, paroxysm, explosion; outbreak, outburst; agony.    violence etc. 173; fierceness etc. adj.; rage, fury, furor, furore^†, desperation, madness, distraction, raving, delirium; phrensy^†, frenzy, hysterics; intoxication; tearing passion, raging passion; anger etc. 900.    fascination, infatuation, fanaticism; Quixotism, Quixotry; tete montee [Fr.].    ... show more

Roget 865: desire, wish, fancy, fantasy; want, need, exigency.    mind, inclination, leaning, bent, animus, partiality, penchant, predilection; propensity etc. 820; willingness etc. 602; liking, love, fondness, relish.    longing, hankering, inkling; solicitude, anxiety; yearning, coveting; aspiration, ambition, vaulting ambition; eagerness, zeal, ardor, empressement [Fr.], breathless impatience, overanxiety; impetuosity, etc. 825.    appetite, appetition^†, appetence^†, appetency^†; sharp appetite, keenness, hunger, stomach, twist; thirst, thirstiness; drouth, mouthwatering; itch, itching; prurience, cacoethes [Lat.], cupidity, lust, concupiscence.    edge of appetite, edge of hunger; torment of Tantalus; sweet tooth, lickerish tooth^†; itching palm; longing eye, wistful eye, sheep's eye.    [excessive desire for money] greed etc. 817.1. voracity etc. (gluttony) 957.    passion, rage, furore^†, mania, manie^†; inextinguishable desire; dipsomania, kleptomania.    [Person who desires] lover, amateur, votary, devotee, aspirant, solicitant, candidate, applicant, supplicant; cormorant etc. 957.    [Object of desire] desideratum; want etc. (requirement) 630; a consummation devoutly to be wished;" attraction, magnet, allurement, fancy, temptation, seduction, fascination, prestige, height of one's ambition, idol; whim, whimsy, whimsey^†; maggot; hobby, hobby-horse.    Fortunatus's cap; wishing cap, wishing stone, wishing well.    ... show more

Roget 870: wonder, marvel; astonishment, amazement, wonderment, bewilderment; amazedness etc. adj.^†; admiration, awe; stupor, stupefaction; stound^†, fascination; sensation; surprise etc. (inexpectation) 508^†.    note of admiration; thaumaturgy etc. (sorcery) 992^†.    ... show more

Roget 615: motive, springs of action, wellsprings of action.    reason, ground, call, principle; by end, by purpose; mainspring, primum mobile [Lat.], keystone; the why and the wherefore; pro and con, reason why; secret motive, arriere pensee [Fr.]; intention etc. 620.    inducement, consideration; attraction; loadstone; magnet, magnetism, magnetic force; allectation^†, allective^†; temptation, enticement, agacerie^†, allurement, witchery; bewitchment, bewitchery; charm; spell etc. 993; fascination, blandishment, cajolery; seduction, seducement; honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple.    persuasibility^†, persuasibleness^†; attractability^†; impressibility, susceptibility; softness; persuasiveness, attractiveness; tantalization^†.    influence, prompting, dictate, instance; impulse, impulsion; incitement, incitation; press, instigation; provocation etc. (excitation of feeling) 824; inspiration; persuasion, suasion; encouragement, advocacy; exhortation; advice etc. 695; solicitation etc. (request) 765; lobbyism; pull [Slang].    incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus^†, rowel, provocative, whet, dram.    bribe, lure; decoy, decoy duck; bait, trail of a red herring; bribery and corruption; sop, sop for Cerberus.    prompter, tempter; seducer, seductor^†; instigator, firebrand, incendiary; Siren, Circe; agent provocateur; lobbyist.    ... show more

A feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual.

synonyms: captivation, enchantment, enthrallment.

Roget 829: pleasurableness, pleasantness, agreeableness etc. adj.; pleasure giving, jucundity^†, delectability; amusement etc. 840.    attraction etc. (motive) 615; attractiveness, attractability^†; invitingness etc. adj.^†; harm, fascination, enchantment, witchery, seduction, winning ways, amenity, amiability; winsomeness.    loveliness etc. (beauty) 845; sunny side, bright side; sweets etc. (sugar) 396; goodness etc. 648; manna in the wilderness, land flowing with milk and honey; bittersweet; fair weather.    treat; regale etc. (physical pleasure) 377; dainty; titbit^†, tidbit; nuts, sauce piquante [Fr.].    ... show more

Dutch: fascinatie
Polish: fascynacja, oczarowanie, olśnienie, urzeczenie, zauroczenie

The capacity to attract intense interest.