Friedrich Anton Mesmer

9.6

An Austrian doctor who said he could cure people using animal magnetism and who influenced modern hypnosis

proper noun

: Friedrich Anton Mesmer

Friedrich Anton Mesmer claimed he could cure diseases through animal magnetism.

Examples

Many historians credit Friedrich Anton Mesmer with influencing the development of modern hypnosis.
The term 'mesmerize' was inspired by the work of Friedrich Anton Mesmer in the 18th century.
The theories of Friedrich Anton Mesmer revolutionized the field of medicine.
Did Friedrich Anton Mesmer really believe in animal magnetism?
Friedrich Anton Mesmer developed a controversial theory of animal magnetism that fascinated many in his time.
The practice of hypnotism owes much to Friedrich Anton Mesmer and his innovative methods.
People still discuss the impact of Friedrich Anton Mesmer on the understanding of mind and body in medicine.

Synonyms

Franz Anton Mesmer

vsFriedrich Anton Mesmer

1 9.9

An Austrian doctor who developed mesmerism, an early form of hypnosis used to treat illness

focuses on a theory of animal magnetism rather than just naming the practice

Surface Forms

Friedrich Anton Mesmer main

Morphology

Friedrich + Anton + Mesmer

This is a full proper name referring to a historical individual; the meanings of the constituent names ('Friedrich', 'Anton', 'Mesmer') do not compose to yield the biographical information (Austrian physician who proposed animal magnetism/hypnotism). Understanding this MWE requires encyclopedic/world knowledge rather than knowledge of the parts, so it is not derivable by a B1 learner who only knows the constituents.

Etymology

Friedrich Anton Mesmer was an Austrian doctor in the 1700s who said an invisible force called 'animal magnetism' flowed between people and that he could move it with his hands to put patients into a trance. That's why his name became the verb 'mesmerize', meaning 'to fascinate' or hold someone's attention as if in a trance.