Definition of "captivate"
captivate
verb
third-person singular simple present captivates, present participle captivating, simple past and past participle captivated
(obsolete)
To make (a person, an animal, etc.) a captive; to take prisoner; to capture, to subdue.
Quotations
Hovv ill-beſeeming is it in thy Sex, / To triumph like an Amazonian Trull, / Vpon their VVoes, vvhom Fortune captiuates?
c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iv], page 151, column 2
Dabuh is the name of a ſimple and baſe Creature like a VVolfe, ſaue that his legges and feet are like to a mans: ſo fooliſh, that vvith a ſong, and a Taber, that vvhich they knovv his haunt vvill bring him out of his denne, and captiue his cares vvith their Muſicke, vvhile another captiuateth his legges vvith a Rope.
1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Relations of the Regions and Religions in Africa.] Of Africa, and the Creatures therein.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], published 1614, book VI (Of Ægypt, Barbary, Numidia, Libya, and the Land of Negros; and of Their Religions), page 558
(figuratively) To capture or control (the mind, etc.); to subdue, to subjugate.
Quotations
Hee hath no skill in Rhetoricke, nor can hee vvith a preface fore-ſtall and captivate the Gentle Readers good vvill: nor careth he greatly to knovve it.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, “Of the Institution and Education of Children; to the Ladie Diana of Foix, Countesse of Gurson”, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], page 82
(figuratively) To attract and hold (someone's) attention and interest; to charm, to entrance, to fascinate.
Quotations
Hir ſlippers rauyſhed his eyes, hir bewtye captyuated his mynde, with the swerde ſmote ſhe of his neck.
1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg: Eucharius Cervicornus and J. Soter?], Judith xvj:, folio xxix, verso, column 2
Besides, Rose Bradwardine, beautiful and amiable as we have described her, had not precisely the sort of beauty or merit which captivates a romantic imagination in early youth.
1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], “A Discovery—Waverly Becomes Domesticated at Tully-Veolan”, in Waverley; […], 2nd edition, volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, page 207
One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis and another boy interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.
1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 26
adjective
comparative more captivate, superlative most captivate
(also figuratively, obsolete) Made captive; taken prisoner; captured, subdued.
Quotations
Tuſh, vvomen haue bene captiuate ere novv.
1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene v], page 116, column 1
VVhat is Gods houſe in Caſtle pent, but like that Arke of bliſſe / In Balaims temple Captivate? Ech place a priſon is.
1610, William Camden, “Wilshire”, in Philémon Holland, transl., Britain, or A Chorographicall Description of the Most Flourishing Kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press for] Georgii Bishop & Ioannis Norton, page 247