All 3 Uses of
enthrall
in
The Odyssey
- Just as I stood there gazing, rapt, for hours ...
no shaft like that had ever risen up from the earth—
so now I marvel at you, my lady: rapt, enthralled,
too struck with awe to grasp you by the knees
though pain has ground me down.†p. 173.8 *enthralled = held spellbound (with full attention captured)
- There's nothing better
than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm
and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks,
enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables
heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine from a mixing-bowl
the steward makes his rounds and keeps the winecups flowing.†p. 211.5
- Polites, captain of armies, took command,
the closest, most devoted man I had: 'Friends,
there's someone inside, plying a great loom,
and how she sings—enthralling!†p. 237.6enthralling = holding spellbound (capturing full attention)
Definitions:
-
(1)
(enthrall as in: enthralled by the story) to capture and hold someone's full attention -- often by being fascinating, exciting, or beautiful
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely, in the past enthrall could reference enslavement.