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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.”
Examples of enthrall in a Sentence
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Two Atlanta authors publish three new books this winter aimed to enthrall readers between the ages of 2 and 18.
—Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 1 Feb. 2026
But while these models are enthrall Environmental activist Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday at the age of 91, understood the bleak projections from climate scientists — and the economic and political structures that hinder change.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Screaming engine notes inspire some fans, while power units configured to promote good racing enthrall others.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Enthrall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthrall. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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