Transfixed
A woman stands transfixed by a painting in a museum.
1)Is this sentence fine?
2)Is transfixed an unusual choice of word in this context?
3)Basically I just want to describe that the woman is looking at the painting which has her complete attention. Is transfixed OK or is there another and better word to describe this?
Top answer
"transfixed" is possible, but it is a strong word, implying that her mind is seized by a very powerful and consuming emotion. Slightly milder ways of putting it are "preoccupied by" or "engrossed in". The other comment I would make about your sentence is that it is not totally unambiguous whether the painting has transfixed her, or whether something else has transfixed her and she also happens to be standing by (next to) a painting.
- "transfixed" is possible, but it is a strong word, implying that her mind is seized by a very powerful and consuming emotion.
- Slightly milder ways of putting it are "preoccupied by" or "engrossed in".
- The other comment I would make about your sentence is that it is not totally unambiguous whether the painting has transfixed her, or whether something else has transfixed her and she also happens to be standing by (next to) a painting.
- We can guess that probably the former is meant, but, as I say, it is not certain.
- anonymous 1)Is this sentence fine?
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"transfixed" is possible, but it is a strong word, implying that her mind is seized by a very powerful and consuming emotion. Slightly milder ways of putting it are "preoccupied by" or "engrossed in".
The other comment I would make about your sentence is that it is not totally unambiguous whether the painting has transfixed her, or whether something else has transfixed her and she also h
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