# mesmerism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɛz.məˌɹɪz.əm/

## Definitions
1. The method or power of gaining control over someone's personality or actions, as in hypnosis or suggestion.
2. The state induced by hypnotic methods (especially that of Mesmer himself).

## Etymology
From French mesmérisme, analysable as Mesmer + -ism; so called after Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), a German physician who developed the animal magnetism theory.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mesmerism