hypnotic trance
1
8.6
- noun
- /hɪpˈnɑtɪk træns/
- Specialized
:
trance hipnótica
- They're trying to lull us into some kind of hypnotic trance.
Examples
-
A hypnotic trance empowers people.
Academic text (2015) -
In the car, in the dark, driving in the company of massive tractor-trailers, I had cried for a few hours before falling into the soothing, hypnotic trance of long-term driving.
Fiction book (1997) -
Until you question those hypnotic trances, you don't change.
-
When I say the word Constantinople, you will instantly drop into the deepest hypnotic trance.
-
One of these, uh, subjects, while in deep hypnotic trance, will defy one of the most basic laws of the universe... the law of gravity.
-
As I said, according to the readings, you weren't asleep at all; it was a trance state, a very deep involuntary hypnotic trance.
Fiction book (1998) -
There's a lot of music in Oz, about 115 minutes, but I'm having a great time because the music's all very narrative, and I really could go into almost a hypnotic trance and just pour music out in a way I really enjoy.
Blog text (24) -
As mentioned above, many of the key agencies rumored to be involved in UFOs were carefully monitoring the odd case of the lady from Maine who, while in a hypnotic trance, had allegedly communicated with a starship.
Blog text (3) -
No holds barred, and talk common sense and see if that can help snap the masses out of the blind celebrity worship hypnotic trance they've succumbed to from the O-Team.
Blog text (12) -
She entered a hypnotic trance, completely unaware of her surroundings.
Synonyms
60
7.1
A state when a person is not fully aware and cannot control their actions
58
6.2
A state of focused attention in which a person is more open to ideas from another person
A strong feeling of complete fascination that holds your attention
How Deep
- Specialized
1
8.6
2
6.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents directly contribute to the overall meaning: 'hypnotic' relates to hypnosis and 'trance' denotes a reduced-awareness state, so 'hypnotic trance' straightforwardly means a trance caused by hypnosis. This is a regular adjective+noun composition and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Hypnotic trance comes from words that picture being put to 'sleep' and into a dream-like state: hypnotic comes from a word for 'sleep' and trance suggests a quiet, distant mind. So the phrase creates the image of someone very calm and open to suggestion, which is why it means a deep, easily influenced state.