fascinate [L16th] ‘Bewitch, put under a spell’ was the first sense recorded for fascinate which comes from Latin fascinare ‘bewitch’. Fascinator has been used for a decorative headpiece since the 1970s, although in the 19th century it was used for a scarf worn over the head and wrapped round the neck and shoulders and had been used in the basic sense ‘one who fascinates’ since the 1670s.