fascination

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The capability of eliciting intense interest or of being very attractive.
2. n. The state of being intensely interested or attracted: listened in fascination.
3. n. An intensely interesting, attractive quality or trait.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of bewitching; enchantment; hence, a subtle, irresistible influence upon the imagination, reason, or will. It was formerly generally believed, and still is believed by uneducated and barbarous people, that certain persons have the power of inflicting various diseases and evils on individuals by using certain words or spells, or by a look, without coming in contact with them or administering anything to them; against this fascination divers medicines, amulets, and ceremonies have been used. (See captation, 2.) The notion of the “evil eye,” which still exists, is a vestige of this superstition. (See the evil eye, under evil.) Of the lower animals fascination, as a power exerted or as an effect, has been almost universally attributed to venomous reptiles, as the rattlesnake or the cobra, with much evidence in its favor upon the face of observed incidents, but as yet without satisfactory scientific determination.
2. n. A fascinating influence upon the passions and affections; a powerful attraction; a spell; a charm: as, the fascinations of society.
3. n. The state of being fascinated or bewitched, or under the sway of a powerful attraction or a commanding and more or less mysterious influence; specifically, a certain hypnotic state. See the extract.
4. n. Synonyms Spell, charm, magic, sorcery, witchery.

Wiktionary

1. n. The act of fascinating, bewitching, or enchanting; enchantment; witchcraft; the exercise of a powerful or irresistible influence on the affections or passions; unseen, inexplicable influence.
2. n. The state or condition of being fascinated.
3. n. That which fascinates; a charm; a spell.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act of fascinating, bewitching, or enchanting; enchantment; witchcraft; the exercise of a powerful or irresistible influence on the affections or passions; unseen, inexplicable influence.
2. n. The state or condition of being fascinated.
3. n. That which fascinates; a charm; a spell.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
2. n. the capacity to attract intense interest
3. n. the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)