Have you ever noticed that riveting can have two meanings? It can mean fascinating, but also the action of fixing rivets (metal pins) to a surface (I was thinking about this recently after hearing someone talk about the riveters who worked on the Titanic). It might seem odd that it can have these two meanings, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
A rivet fixes something in place, and if you’re riveted by something, you’re fixed in place by it, as you can’t look away. Both words come from the Old French river, meaning to clench, fix, or fasten. If you think about it, lots of synonyms for riveting are similarly about our powerlessness in the face of what we’re riveted by. To fascinate originally meant to put under a spell. To entrance is similar, as it to enthrall, which literally means to enslave. Captivating of course is also similar, meaning to be made captive.
Anyway, it’s Sunday, so I think that’s enough fascinating information for this day of rest!
English-Language Thoughts 
I once heard a judge giving his judgement in an occupational injury claim case. He summarised the claimant’s work task approximately ‘She took one component from bin A and another from bin B and performed her riveting job on it – actually it doesn’t sound at all riveting’.
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I like that; I wish more people took the opportunity to make “riveting” puns!
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First of all, any time you want to dissect a word, it’s fine by me. I so love language. It’s positively riveting any day of the week…:)
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My pleasure 😊
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[…] or dear was applied to one’s friends or family/clan members: free people, as opposed to slaves, who, I probably don’t need to state, were far from […]
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