The sb. thrall may here be taken in either of its two senses, ‘slave’ and ‘slavery.’]
1. trans. To reduce to the condition of a thrall; to hold in thrall; to enslave, bring into bondage. Now rare in lit. sense.
α. 1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Brutus, iii. Ingrateful Cæsar who could Rome enthrall.
1659. Pearson, Creed, 731. For a ransome is … that which is deteined, or given for the releasing of that which is inthralled.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 321. The danger … of being again enthralled by the Spaniards.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. xxv. I am free! No one shall enthrall me.
β. 1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. 39. Those people, which he [the Turk] hath subjected and inthralled.
1636. E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, II. 495. It is as hard and dangerous … to inthrall a people, that would live free.
2. fig. To ‘enslave’ mentally or morally. Now chiefly, to captivate, hold spellbound, by pleasing qualities.
α. 1576. Newton, trans. Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 170. A man should not give over or enthrall his credit and honour to Harlots.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 142. So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape.
1695. Ld. Preston, Boeth., IV. 177. Vice doth enthral Men’s strongest Powers.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, II. vi. 179. He was inclined to believe, that a stratagem had enthralled him.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 123. And M—, in that simple dress, Enthralls us more by studying less.
1878. E. Jenkins, Haverholme, 136. He was enthralled by the wizard spell of the orator.
β. 1603. Daniel, Def. Rhime (1717), 12. Seeking to please our Ear, we inthral our Judgment.
1636. Healey, Theophrast., Impert. Diligence, 53. This fellow perswades him not so much to inthrall himselfe to his Physicians directions.
c. 1720. Prior, Poems (1866), 12. She soothes, but never can inthral my mind.
a. 1803. Beattie, Hermit, in Minstrel, etc. (1823), 144 (R.). Spring shall return, and a lover bestow, And sorrow no longer thy bosom enthrall.
1859. Kingsley, Raleigh, Misc. I. 30. The sense of beauty inthralls him at every step.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., I. xviii. 516. To inthrall his mind by the influences of religion.
Hence Enthralled ppl. a. Enthraller, one who enthralls. Enthralling vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 134. Loue hath chas’d sleepe from my enthralled eyes.
1600. Holland, Livy, II. xxiv. 59. The enthralled debtors … were immediatlie by name enrolled.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 75. Through our … backwardnes to recover any enthrall’d peece of truth out of the gripe of custom.
1640–4. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 93. The subjecting and inthralling all Ministers under them.
1669. Cokaine, Poems, 249. Her sweetest Mouth … [is] All hearts enthraller.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 311. With an enthralled world to labour for them.
1820. Scott, Monast., II. 5. Those of the Sucken, or enthralled ground, were liable in penalties.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, xiv. 195. To break loose from the enthralling chains of earth.
