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Infatuate

//ɪnˈfætjuˌ(w)eɪt// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective

1
Infatuated, foolishly attracted to someone. obsolete
"He is infatuate about her."
2
Foolish, lacking good judgement. obsolete
"Helas I lamente the dull abuſyd brayne The enfatuate fantaſies the wytles wylfulnes Of on and hothyr at me that haue dyſdayne"

Noun

1
Infatuated person. obsolete
"1771, Elizabeth Griffith, The History of Lady Barton, London: T. Davies & T. Cadell, Volume I, Letter 26, p. 183, […] she has a number of relations here, brothers and cousins, by the dozen; but they are all priests, and I am apprehensive that some of these infatuates may persuade her to quit me, and lock her up in a convent […]"

Verb

1
To inspire with unreasoning love, attachment or enthusiasm. transitive
"If the mine was a “developed” one, and had no pay ore to show (and of course it hadn’t), we praised the tunnel; said it was one of the most infatuating tunnels in the land; driveled and driveled about the tunnel till we ran entirely out of ecstasies—but never said a word about the rock."
2
arouse unreasoning love or passion in and cause to behave in an irrational way wordnet
3
To make foolish. obsolete, transitive
"[…] wee beggard our selues by hearkning after false riches, and infatuated our selues by hearkning after false knowledge."

Etymology

Etymology 1

First attested in 1533; from Middle English infatuate and/or borrowed from Latin infatuātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 2 for more.

Etymology 2

First attested in 1477, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English infatuate (“foolish”, adjective), from Latin infatuātus, perfect passive participle of infatuō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).

Etymology 3

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