| Mesmer | F. A., Austrian physician, 1733-1815. See: mesmerism. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| mesmerise | An obsolete term for hypnotise. Origin: see mesmerism (05 Mar 2000) |
| mesmerism | The art of inducing an extraordinary or abnormal state of the nervous system, in which the actor claims to control the actions, and communicate directly with the mind, of the recipient. See Animal magnetism, under Magnetism. Origin: From Mesmer, who first brought it into notice at Vienna, about 1775: cf. F. Mesmerisme. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |