That captivates, takes captive, or enthralls. (See the vb.)
1675. H. More, in R. Ward, Life (1710), 244. The Captivating Desires of the Animal Life.
1690. Baxter, Kingd. Christ, i. (1691), 6. Their Persecuting, Captivating … Enemies.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 213. When captivating Death he captive led.
1772. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), IV. 109. Mrs. Garrick is … the most captivating of the whole circle.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. viii. 218–9. The tale of the early days of Bee is one of the most captivating in the whole range of monastic history or monastic legend.
Hence Captivatingly adv.
1861. Temple Bar, III. 533. The child is captivatingly modelled.
1863. Ellen C. Clayton, Queens of Song, II. 326. Never did she sing or act more captivatingly than during this season.
