enthral

 
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈθrɔːl, ɛn-/
(US enthrall)

verb (enthrals, enthralling, enthralled)

[with object]
  • 1capture the fascinated attention of: she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold
  • 2 (also inthrall) archaic enslave: it is as hard and dangerous to inthrall a people that would live free

Derivatives

enthralment

(US enthrallment) noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'enslave'; formerly also as inthrall): from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + thrall

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (enthrals, enthralling, enthralled).