Bewitch

A young woman sings an old folk song in a quiet forest clearing. Her voice is soft but haunting. A traveller passing by stops in his tracks. He forgets where he is going. He cannot look away. Her melody seems to pull him into another world, as if by magic. He does not simply enjoy the music; he is completely captivated, as if under a spell. What has the singer done to the traveller? She has bewitched him.

Bewitch means to attract someone so strongly that they lose control, as if under a magic spell. Captivate, by contrast, means to hold someone’s attention completely, but usually without the sense of magic or loss of self-control. So, bewitch focuses on irresistible, almost supernatural charm that overwhelms. Captivate focuses on intense interest or fascination that still allows awareness. In other words, a beautiful voice may captivate an audience; a sorceress’s gaze may bewitch a wanderer.