Dictionary

infatuate en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪnˈfætʃuˌ(w)eɪt/
• /ɪnˈfætjuˌ(w)eɪt/

Etymology

First attested in 1533; from Middle English infatuate and/or borrowed from Latin infatuātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 2 for more.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To inspire with unreasoning love, attachment or enthusiasm.
   • If the mine was a “developed” one, and had no pay ore to show (and of course it hadn’t), we praised the tunnel; said it was one of the most infatuating tunnels in the land; driveled and driveled about the tunnel till we ran entirely out of ecstasies—but never said a word about the rock. 1870–1871 (date written), Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XLIV, in Roughing It, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company [et al.], published 1872, →OCLC, page 308:
   • I declare the girl seems quite to infatuate the men, and see if trouble does not come of it. 1888, George Manville Fenn, chapter 15, in One Maid’s Mischief, New York: Appleton, page 53:
2. (obsolete, transitive) To make foolish.
   • […] wee beggard our selues by hearkning after false riches, and infatuated our selues by hearkning after false knowledge. 1624, John Donne, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, London: Thomas Jones, pages 3–4:
   • Heaven doubtless has infatuated these Infidels, and given them up to dote on the grossest Absurdities; other wise they could never swallow such open and notorious Impositions […] 1718, Daniel Defoe, A Continuation of Letters Written by a Turkish Spy at Paris, London: W. Taylor, Letter 4, p. 20:

Forms

Deriveds

infatuative · infatuated · infatuator

Relateds

fatuousness · infatuation · fatuously · fatuity

Translations (15)

fi hullaannuttaa (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · es infatuar (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · ru обольстить (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · th หลง (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · mi whakawairangi (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · fi ihastuttaa (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · nl verdwazen (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · th ลุ่มหลง (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · bg замайвам (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · ru увле́чь (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · de betören (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · nl verblinden (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · ca infatuar (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · mi whātītipa (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment) · mi whakatītipa (to inspire with unreasoning love or attachment)

infatuate en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪnˈfætʃu(w)ət/
• /ɪnˈfætju(w)ət/

Etymology

First attested in 1477, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English infatuate (“foolish”, adjective), from Latin infatuātus, perfect passive participle of infatuō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Infatuated, foolishly attracted to someone.
   • He is infatuate about her. 1901, J. M. Barrie, Quality Street, act III:
2. (obsolete) Foolish, lacking good judgement.
   • 1623, Joseph Hall, Contemplations on the Historical Passages of the Old and New Testaments (original title Contemplations vpon the Historie of the Old Testament), Edinburgh: Ja. Robertson et al., 1796, Volume 2, Book 18, Contemplation 4, p. 167, There was never wicked man that was not infatuate, and in nothing more than in those things wherein he hoped most to transcend the reach of others.
   • Wilde was in a curious double temper. He made no pretence either of innocence or of questioning the folly of his proceedings against Queensberry. But he had an infatuate haughtiness as to the impossibility of his retreating, and as to his right to dictate your course. 1918, George Bernard Shaw, “A Letter to Frank Harris, published by him in his Life of Wilde”, in Pen Portraits and Reviews, London: Constable, published 1931, page 293:
   • Helas I lamente the dull abuſyd brayne The enfatuate fantaſies the wytles wylfulnes Of on and hothyr at me that haue dyſdayne c. 1521, John Skelton, Speke Parott:

Forms

wikipedia: Middle English

infatuate en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪnˈfætʃu(w)ət/
• /ɪnˈfætju(w)ət/

Etymology

First attested in 1477, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English infatuate (“foolish”, adjective), from Latin infatuātus, perfect passive participle of infatuō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Meanings

1. (obsolete) Infatuated person.
   • The idol has come sliding down its pedestal to fawn and grovel with all the other infatuates in the dust about my feet. 1911, Max Beerbohm, chapter 4, in Zuleika Dobson, New York: John Lane, page 59:
   • 1771, Elizabeth Griffith, The History of Lady Barton, London: T. Davies & T. Cadell, Volume I, Letter 26, p. 183, […] she has a number of relations here, brothers and cousins, by the dozen; but they are all priests, and I am apprehensive that some of these infatuates may persuade her to quit me, and lock her up in a convent […]

Forms

wikipedia: Middle English