infatuate

verb

1. (transitive)To inspire with unreasoning love, attachment or enthusiasm.

   “If the mine was a “developed” one, and had no pay ore to show (and of course it hadn’t), we praised the tunnel; said it was one of the most infatuating tunnels in the land; driveled and driveled about the tunnel till we ran entirely out of ecstasies—but never said a word about the rock.”

   “I declare the girl seems quite to infatuate the men, and see if trouble does not come of it.”

2. (obsolete, transitive)To make foolish.

   “[…] wee beggard our selues by hearkning after false riches, and infatuated our selues by hearkning after false knowledge.”

   “Heaven doubtless has infatuated these Infidels, and given them up to dote on the grossest Absurdities; other wise they could never swallow such open and notorious Impositions […]”

adj

1. (obsolete)Infatuated, foolishly attracted to someone.

   “He is infatuate about her.”

2. (obsolete)Foolish, lacking good judgement.

   “Helas I lamente the dull abuſyd brayne The enfatuate fantaſies the wytles wylfulnes Of on and hothyr at me that haue dyſdayne”

   “1623, Joseph Hall, Contemplations on the Historical Passages of the Old and New Testaments (original title Contemplations vpon the Historie of the Old Testament), Edinburgh: Ja. Robertson et al., 1796, Volume 2, Book 18, Contemplation 4, p. 167, There was never wicked man that was not infatuate, and in nothing more than in those things wherein he hoped most to transcend the reach of others.”

   “Wilde was in a curious double temper. He made no pretence either of innocence or of questioning the folly of his proceedings against Queensberry. But he had an infatuate haughtiness as to the impossibility of his retreating, and as to his right to dictate your course.”

noun

1. (obsolete)Infatuated person.

   “1771, Elizabeth Griffith, The History of Lady Barton, London: T. Davies & T. Cadell, Volume I, Letter 26, p. 183, […] she has a number of relations here, brothers and cousins, by the dozen; but they are all priests, and I am apprehensive that some of these infatuates may persuade her to quit me, and lock her up in a convent […]”

   “The idol has come sliding down its pedestal to fawn and grovel with all the other infatuates in the dust about my feet.”