mesmerism

mesmerism
A system of therapeutics from which were developed hypnotism and therapeutic suggestion. [F.A. Mesmer, Austrian physician, 1734–1815]

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mes·mer·ism 'mez-mə-.riz-əmalso 'mes- n hypnotic induction by the practices of F. A. Mesmer that was believed to involve animal magnetism broadly HYPNOTISM
Mes·mer 'mes-mər Franz or Friedrich Anton (1734-1815)
German physician. Mesmer started a career in orthodox medicine but soon began to explore new theories of medicine. He began experimenting with the use of magnets as curative agents and gradually developed a theory of animal magnetism. He believed in the presence of invisible fluids in the body and that disease resulted from an interruption in the free flow of these fluids. The flow of the fluid could be corrected through magnetic force. Eventually he came to believe that his own body possessed special magnetic forces. In 1778 he began practicing mesmerism in Paris and created a popular sensation. In 1784 his followers started to apply his techniques to hypnosis. Mesmer was regarded as a fraud by contemporary medical authorities.

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n.
hypnosis based on the ideas of the 18th-century physician Franz Mesmer, sometimes employing magnets and a variety of other equipment.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • mesmerism — MESMERÍSM s.n. Teoria magnetismului animal; (med.) tratament bazat pe această teorie. – Din fr. mesmérisme. Trimis de LauraGellner, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  MESMERÍSM s. v. magnetism animal. Trimis de siveco, 05.08.2004. Sursa: Sinonime … …   Dicționar Român

  • 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 which the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mesmerism — (n.) hypnotism, 1802, from Fr. mesmérisme, named for Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 1815), Austrian physician who developed a theory of animal magnetism and a mysterious body fluid which allows one person to hypnotize another. Related: Mesmerist …   Etymology dictionary

  • mesmerism — ► NOUN 1) historical a therapeutic technique involving hypnotism. 2) hypnotism. DERIVATIVES mesmerist noun. ORIGIN named after the Austrian physician Franz A. Mesmer (1734 1815) …   English terms dictionary

  • mesmerism — [mez′mər iz΄əm, mes′mər iz΄əm] n. [Fr Mesmérisme, after F. A. Mesmer (1734 1815), Ger physician] 1. hypnotism, esp. as practiced by Mesmer in connection with his theory of animal magnetism 2. hypnotic or irresistible attraction; fascination… …   English World dictionary

  • Mesmerism —    , MESMERIZE    Franz Anton Mesmer, born in Germany on May 23, 1733, studied for the priesthood, then law. Finally he took up the study of medicine and became a serious student at the University of Vienna. He ultimately became a faculty member… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • mesmerism — noun Etymology: F. A. Mesmer Date: 1784 1. hypnotic induction held to involve animal magnetism; broadly hypnotism 2. hypnotic appeal • mesmerist noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mesmerism — mesmerist, n. /mez meuh riz euhm, mes /, n. 1. hypnosis as induced, according to F. A. Mesmer, through animal magnetism. 2. hypnotism. 3. a compelling attraction; fascination. [1775 85; MESMER + ISM] * * * …   Universalium

  • mesmerism — noun The method or power of gaining control over someones personality or actions …   Wiktionary

  • MESMERISM —    animal magnetism so called, or the alleged power which, by operating on the nervous system, one person obtains control over the thoughts and actions of another …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

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