What is it called when someone is utterly absorbed in a piece of art?
At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.
It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.
An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.
I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.
single-word-requests
New contributor
add a comment |
At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.
It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.
An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.
I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.
single-word-requests
New contributor
Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago
add a comment |
At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.
It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.
An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.
I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.
single-word-requests
New contributor
At one art workshop, the lecturer was describing the state of being when one is fully absorbed in a piece of art.
It is paired with losing a sense of time for a brief moment and sometimes followed by an emotional reaction caused by a particular work.
An example would be when one is looking at paintings and they burst into tears.
I know that there is a word for this state of being. The word could be taken from another language.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
New contributor
New contributor
edited yesterday
Mitch
52.4k15105220
52.4k15105220
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asked yesterday
Kamil FolwarcznyKamil Folwarczny
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New contributor
New contributor
Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago
add a comment |
Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago
Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.
The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as
: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing
This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.
Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as
: to put into a trance
This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.
Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as
: to hold spellbound : Charm
This one is very similar to entrance.
A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
I hope this answered your question!
New contributor
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
add a comment |
I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".
Oxford dictionary defines it as,
Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.
The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
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votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.
The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as
: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing
This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.
Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as
: to put into a trance
This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.
Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as
: to hold spellbound : Charm
This one is very similar to entrance.
A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
I hope this answered your question!
New contributor
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
add a comment |
A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.
The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as
: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing
This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.
Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as
: to put into a trance
This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.
Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as
: to hold spellbound : Charm
This one is very similar to entrance.
A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
I hope this answered your question!
New contributor
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
add a comment |
A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.
The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as
: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing
This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.
Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as
: to put into a trance
This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.
Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as
: to hold spellbound : Charm
This one is very similar to entrance.
A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
I hope this answered your question!
New contributor
A couple ideas come to mind. This one can be a bit difficult since being absorbed in something seems to require focus, yet it also seems involuntary.
The first word that came to my mind is transfixed.
Transfix is a transitive verb defined by Merriam-Webster as
: to hold motionless by or as if by piercing
This one makes a good bit of sense as its second definition deals with being physically impaled. The art, in this case, is almost forcing you to stop. However, a drawback to this word is that it does not imply much emotion.
Another word that came to mind is entranced.
Entrance is also a transitive verb. It is defined as
: to put into a trance
This one has a bit less force to it, but it more accurately describes that sensation in an emotional sense.
Similar to entranced, you could use enthralled.
Enthrall is another transitive verb. It is defined as
: to hold spellbound : Charm
This one is very similar to entrance.
A fourth word worth thinking about is selah.
Selah is a Hebrew word found throughout the Bible in the book of Psalms. It is generally understood by the context to be a sort of musical direction. Here's an example:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
Nobody actually knows the true meaning of the word; however, many suggest that it means something like "stop and listen". This could be something related to that sense of being absorbed in something. Here is the link to the Wikipedia article for the word: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selah
I hope this answered your question!
New contributor
New contributor
answered yesterday
TawiskaruTawiskaru
111
111
New contributor
New contributor
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
add a comment |
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
Already ready up-voted (+1) :) Please add Merriam Webster dictionary links. Good luck !
– Ubi hatt
18 hours ago
add a comment |
I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".
Oxford dictionary defines it as,
Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.
The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.
add a comment |
I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".
Oxford dictionary defines it as,
Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.
The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.
add a comment |
I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".
Oxford dictionary defines it as,
Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.
The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.
I'd suggest the word rapt. It means, "carried away in an ecstatic trance" from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "seize, carry off". A figurative sense, the notion is of "carried up into Heaven (bodily or in a dream)".
Oxford dictionary defines it as,
Completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.
The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
The old guy was seeing the painting with the rapt attention.
answered 21 hours ago
Ubi hattUbi hatt
3,378826
3,378826
add a comment |
add a comment |
Kamil Folwarczny is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kamil Folwarczny is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kamil Folwarczny is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Kamil Folwarczny is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Please include the research you have done.
– JJJ
yesterday
And give us a sample sentence please.
– lbf
yesterday
A term for a general state of absorption (i.e. not restricted to looking at a piece of art) is flow, coined by Hungarian psychologist Csikszentmihalyi. Here is a brief extract from the Wikipedia article: "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting loss in one's sense of space and time".
– Shoe
23 hours ago