From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Magnetism \Mag"net*ism\, n. [Cf. F. magn['e]tisme.]
The property, quality, or state, of being magnetic; the
manifestation of the force in nature which is seen in a
magnet. At one time it was believed to be separate from the
electrical force, but it is now known to be intimately
associated with electricity, as part of the phenomenon of
{electromagnetism}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The science which treats of magnetic phenomena.
[1913 Webster]
3. Power of attraction; power to excite the feelings and to
gain the affections. "By the magnetism of interest our
affections are irresistibly attracted." --Glanvill.
[1913 Webster]
{Animal magnetism}, Same as {hypnotism}, at one time believe
to be due to a force more or less analogous to magnetism,
which, it was alleged, is produced in animal tissues, and
passes from one body to another with or without actual
contact. The existence of such a force, and its
potentiality for the cure of disease, were asserted by
Mesmer in 1775. His theories and methods were afterwards
called mesmerism, a name which has been popularly applied
to theories and claims not put forward by Mesmer himself.
See {Mesmerism}, {Biology}, {Od}, {Hypnotism}.
{Terrestrial magnetism}, the magnetic force exerted by the
earth, and recognized by its effect upon magnetized
needles and bars.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
magnetism
n 1: attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as
well as magnets; characterized by fields of force [syn:
{magnetism}, {magnetic attraction}, {magnetic force}]
2: the branch of science that studies magnetism [syn:
{magnetism}, {magnetics}]
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