The history of enthrall appeals far less than the word as we use it today might suggest. In Middle English, enthrallen meant “to deprive of privileges; to put in bondage.” Thrall then, as now, referred to bondage or slavery. An early figurative use of enthrall appeared in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.” But we rarely use even this sense of mental or moral control anymore. More often, the word simply suggests a state of being generally captivated or delighted by some particular thing. Enthrall is commonly found in its past participle form enthralled, which can mean “spellbound,” as in “we listened, enthralled, to the elder's oral history.”
enthralled by the flickering fire in the hearth, we lost all track of time
for years these master magicians have been enthralling audiences with their astounding illusions
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Screaming engine notes inspire some fans, while power units configured to promote good racing enthrall others.—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 In Möbius strip fashion, Gein grows obsessed with crime — and the toxic blooming of his obsession into murder goes on to enthrall the world.—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025 Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper continue to enthrall the masses with their relatively secretive A-list partnership.—Izzy Baskette, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Additionally, the popularity of these shows reveals that Asian leads have the power to enthrall viewers when telling stories where the characters’ race is not a factor.—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enthrall
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