[ad. L. captīvātiōn-em, n. of action f. captivāre to CAPTIVATE.]
1. The action of taking or holding captive; the fact or state of being taken or held captive; now only fig., of the attention, mind, fancy, affections.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 712. In the seauentith yeare after their captiuation they [i.e., Jews] returned home.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 21. No small part of our servitude lyes in the captivation of our understanding.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 147, ¶ 5. By some occult method of captivation, he animated the timorous … and opened the reserved.
1865. C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, 51. They are bound, not in captivity, but in captivation.
1868. ‘Holme Lee,’ B. Godfrey, I. xxiv. 307. It was a case of mutual captivation.
2. A captivating influence, a fascination.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xviii. Lady Penelope threw out the captivations of her wit.
