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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
Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
To that point, Witt has enthralled Royals fans since bursting onto the scene via the 2019 MLB Draft.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
Vance's pugilistic speech at the Munich Security Conference offended many European leaders — but enthralled Republicans back home who liked the tough talk.
—Marc Caputo, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025
The collections center houses Alamo artifacts, including items donated by rock legend Phil Collins, who became enthralled by Alamo lore as a child.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Enthrall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthrall. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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