Mesmeric is an adjective that describes something or someone who has a powerful, enchanting, and hypnotic effect on others. It can also refer to a state of being deeply absorbed in something or completely captivated by it. The term comes from the name of Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), who popularized the concept of "animal magnetism" - an early form of hypnosis that he believed was caused by a magnetic force.