hypnotism

  • 1Hypnotism — • The nervous sleep, induced by artificial and external means, which has been made the subject of experiment and methodical study by men of science, physicians or physiologists Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Hypnotism     Hypn …

    Catholic encyclopedia

  • 2hypnotism — 1843, short for neuro hypnotism (1842), coined by Dr. James Braid of Manchester, England, from HYPNOTIC (Cf. hypnotic) + ISM (Cf. ism). In the same work (1843) Braid coined the verb hypnotize …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3Hypnotism — Hyp no*tism, n. [Gr. ? sleep: cf. F. hypnotisme.] 1. A form of sleep or trance, in some respects resembling somnambulism, but brought on by artificial means, in which there is an unusual suspension of some powers, and an unusual activity of… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4hypnotism — ► NOUN ▪ the study or practice of hypnosis. DERIVATIVES hypnotist noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 5hypnotism — [hip′nə tiz΄əm] n. 1. the act or practice of inducing hypnosis 2. the science of hypnosis …

    English World dictionary

  • 6hypnotism — n. to practice hypnotism * * * [ hɪpnətɪz(ə)m] to practice hypnotism …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 7hypnotism — [[t]hɪ̱pnətɪzəm[/t]] N UNCOUNT Hypnotism is the practice of hypnotizing people. Dulcy also saw a psychiatrist who used hypnotism to help her deal with her fear. Syn: hypnosis Derived words: hypnotist plural N COUNT He was put into a trance by a… …

    English dictionary

  • 8hypnotism — Mesmerism Mes mer*ism, n. [From Mesmer, who first brought it into notice at Vienna, about 1775: cf. F. mesm[ e]risme.] An earlier name for {hypnosis} or {hypnotism}, the art of inducing an extraordinary or abnormal state of the nervous system, in …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 9hypnotism — hypnotist, n. hypnotistic, adj. /hip neuh tiz euhm/, n. 1. the science dealing with the induction of hypnosis. 2. the act of hypnotizing. 3. hypnosis. [shortening of neuro hypnotism, term introduced by British surgeon James Braid (1795 1860) in… …

    Universalium

  • 10hypnotism — hyp•no•tism [[t]ˈhɪp nəˌtɪz əm[/t]] n. 1) med the study or practice of inducing hypnosis 2) psl the act of hypnotizing 3) psl hypnosis 1) • Etymology: shortening of neuro hypnotism, term introduced by British surgeon James Braid (1795–1860) in… …

    From formal English to slang