---
title: fascination — Early Modern English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fascination» in the Early Modern English dictionary: a powerful pull that holds the attention or seems to bewitch someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/fascination/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [Early Modern English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/) / fascination

# fascination

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** powerful pull, Menelaus, royal palace, Odysseus, Circe, he · **What happens:** hold, seem, bewitch, seek, be, retain · **To what, where:** attention, someone, Helen, royal palace, former beauty, warnings

<!-- .vabout -->
«fascination» in the Early Modern English dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 3 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [fascination in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/fascination.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
a powerful pull that holds the attention or seems to bewitch someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:fascination:m1:1
# text = a powerful pull that holds the attention or seems to bewitch someone.
1	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pull	pull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	bewitch	bewitch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | a powerful pull | the attention |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Theme |
| 2 | **seem** | present | a powerful pull *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **bewitch** | to-infinitive | a powerful pull *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus someone=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Menelaus now sought Helen in the royal palace, who, being immortal, still retained all her former beauty and fascination.

<!-- .note -->
From Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:fascination:x1:1
# text = Menelaus now sought Helen in the royal palace, who, being immortal, still retained all her former beauty and fascination.
1	Menelaus	Menelaus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
3	sought	seek	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Helen	Helen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	royal	royal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	cop	_	_
13	immortal	immortal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	still	still	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	retained	retain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
17	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	20	det:predet	_	_
18	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
19	former	former	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	beauty	beauty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	fascination	fascination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seek** | past | Menelaus | Helen |  | the royal palace | now |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent helen=Theme in palace=Location |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | the royal palace |  |  |  |  | immortal *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **retain** | participle | Menelaus *not said here* | Menelaus's former beauty and fascination |  |  | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But all warnings and past experience were forgotten by Odysseus when Circe commenced to exercise upon him her fascinations and blandishments.

<!-- .note -->
From Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:fascination:x2:1
# text = But all warnings and past experience were forgotten by Odysseus when Circe commenced to exercise upon him her fascinations and blandishments.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
2	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	warnings	warning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	experience	experience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	forgotten	forget	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Odysseus	Odysseus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	Circe	Circe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	commenced	commence	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	exercise	exercise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	_
18	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	fascinations	fascination	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	blandishments	blandishment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | past · passive | Odysseus | all warnings and past experience |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **commence** | past | Circe |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **exercise** | to-infinitive | Circe *not said here* | Odysseus's fascinations and blandishments |  |  |  | upon Circe | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fascination=Patient |
| 4 | **fascinate** |  | Odysseus |  |  |  |  |  | nom fascination «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine’s eyes, which looked at him as a snake looks at a little bird.

<!-- .note -->
From The Green Fairy Book.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:fascination:x3:1
# text = And, besides, he felt the fascination of Ludovine’s eyes, which looked at him as a snake looks at a little bird.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	besides	besides	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fascination	fascination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	Ludovine	Ludovine	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	’s	's	PART	POS	_	10	case	_	_
12	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
16	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	_
18	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	snake	snake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
22	at	at	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | he | the fascination of Ludovine's eyes |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fascination=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | past | the fascination of Ludovine's eyes |  |  |  |  | at Ludovine | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at he=Theme |
| 3 | **look** | present | a snake |  |  |  |  | at a little bird | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at bird=Theme |
| 4 | **fascinate** |  |  | Ludovine's eyes |  |  |  |  | nom fascination «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the Early Modern English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova; its examples quote public-domain texts. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [falleth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/falleth/)
- next →: [fetcheth](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/fetcheth/)
- ↑ back to [F in Early Modern English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/F/)