different between obsess vs captivate

English

Etymology

From Latin obsessus, perfect passive participle of obside? (“sit on or in, remain, besiege”), from ob (“before”) + sede? (“I sit”); see sit, session, etc.; compare assess, possess.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?s?s/

Verb

obsess (third-person singular simple present obsesses, present participle obsessing, simple past and past participle obsessed)

1. (passive, constructed with "with") To be preoccupied with a single topic or emotion.
2. (transitive) To dominate the thoughts of someone.

3. (intransitive, colloquial, construed with over) To think or talk obsessively about.

Related terms

• obsession

Translations

Further reading

• obsess in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• obsess in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• bosses

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin capt?v?; synchronically analyzable as captive +? -ate.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?kæpt?ve?t/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?kæpt??ve?t/
• Hyphenation: cap?tiv?ate

Verb

captivate (third-person singular simple present captivates, present participle captivating, simple past and past participle captivated)

1. To attract and hold interest and attention of; charm.
2. (obsolete) To take prisoner; to capture; to subdue.
   • 1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica

     'Tis a greater credit to know the ways of captivating Nature, and making her subserve our purposes, than to have learned all the intrigues of policy.

Related terms

• captivation

Translations

Anagrams

• captative

Latin

Verb

capt?v?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of capt?v?