dazzle
- To impress someone greatly or to blind them temporarily with a very bright light.
In a sentence
- The magician's tricks never failed to dazzle the audience at every show.
- The headlights of the oncoming car briefly dazzled the driver.
Usage note. 'Dazzle' works both literally (bright light) and figuratively (a brilliant performance); the figurative use is very common in entertainment writing.
Where it comes from
English dazzle · entered English late 15th c.
Probably a frequentative form of the Middle English 'dasen' (to stun or daze), related to Old Norse 'dasask' (to become weary). It entered English in the late 15th century and originally referred to being overwhelmed by light or shock.