What does mesmerism mean?
A former term for hypnotism, or the supposed power of one person to induce a trance-like state in another by their gaze or presence. Mesmerism was named after the Austrian physician Franz Mesmer.
Example
"The stage magician's use of mesmerism left the audience in a trance-like state."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.