[f. late L. captīvāt- ppl. stem of captīvāre to take captive, f. captīvus CAPTIVE; cf. F. captiver and CAPTIVE v.]
† 1. trans. To make captive, take prisoner, capture. Obs. or arch.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 186. The Emperor would yet again captivate the Pope.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 209. In Warre Fathers bury children, whereas in peace children burie Fathers, as Crœsus Apophthegamatized, when he was captivated by Cyrus.
1768. C. Beatty, Two Months’ Tour, 11. The Indians … killed and captivated all.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 428. They were mostly taken or destroyed by the enemy, and their seamen captivated.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, III. 86. The British … captured or ‘captivated’ four successive patroles.
† b. To capture, secure, hold captive (animals and things). Obs.
1595. Locrine, III. iv. 165. Thy bragging banners … Shall all be captivated with this hand.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., I. VI. i. 466. Another captivateth his legges with a Rope.
1696. Tryon, Misc., i. 6. There this dark furious Spirit is hid or captivated.
† 2. fig. To make or hold captive, put or keep in subjection, subjugate (the mind, mental attributes, etc.) Const. to. Obs. exc. as passing into 3.
c. 1526. Frith, Disput. Purgatory (1829), 118. Let us ever captivate our reason unto that.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. ii. (1634), 189. I captivate more easily my conceits under the auctoritie of ancient opinions.
1611. Bible, Pref., 10. They that are wise, had rather haue their iudgements at libertie in differences of readings, then to be captiuated to one, when it may be the other.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc. (1707), IV. 269. That requires us to captivate our Reason to the Obedience of Faith.
1838. J. Halley, in Life (1842), 163. Lord, subdue me to thyself; captivate me to thyself.
3. esp. ‘To overpower with excellence’ (J.): to enthrall with charm or attractiveness; to enslave, fascinate, enamour, enchant, charm.
1535. Coverdale, Judith xvi. 9. Hir bewtye captyuated his mynde.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 28. This I do to captivate the eye of the fair breeder that is standing by.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., VI. x. (R.). Princesses … who captivate by proxy.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 111. Wisdom … so captivates him with her appearance, that he gives himself up to her.
1768. Beattie, Minstr., II. xxxvi. Lured by the toys that captivate the throng.
1814. Scott, Wav., xiv. The sort of beauty or merit, which captivates a romantic imagination in early youth.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. v. 92. A tale was framed to captivate the listeners, and humour the nation already prepared for a Spanish war.
