[ad. L. captīvātiōn-em, n. of action f. captivāre to CAPTIVATE.]

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  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.

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1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 712. In the seauentith yeare after their captiuation they [i.e., Jews] returned home.

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a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 21. No small part of our servitude lyes in the captivation of our understanding.

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1751.  Johnson, Rambl., No. 147, ¶ 5. By some occult method of captivation, he animated the timorous … and opened the reserved.

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1865.  C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, 51. They are bound, not in captivity, but in captivation.

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1868.  ‘Holme Lee,’ B. Godfrey, I. xxiv. 307. It was a case of mutual captivation.

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  2.  A captivating influence, a fascination.

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1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, xviii. Lady Penelope threw out the captivations of her wit.

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