charm
noun
- characteristic of an individual to be enchanting and engaging
- small pendant for luck or decoration
- quark flavor
- magical incantation
verb
- to influence with a pleasant and charismatic demeanor
- to affect, enchant, endow with, influence behavior, attract, or delight
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /tʃɑːm/ / /t͡ʃɑɹm/
noun
Etymology: Synchronically a variant of chirm, but reflects Middle English charme (or unattested *charm), from Old English ċearm (“cry, alarm”), from Proto-West Germanic *karm, masculine variant of *karmi f, from Proto-Germanic *karmiz, *karm(j)az (“cry, lament, calling sound”). Near-doublet of chirm, which is from the feminine counterpart.
- The mixed sound of many voices, especially of birds or children.
“[…]Free libertie to chaunt our charmes at will:[…]”
“Sweet is the breath of morn, her riſing ſweet, With charm of earlieſt Birds;”
- A flock, group (especially of finches).
“A charm of finches flew overhead, singing into the vivid afternoon sky.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English charme, from Old French charme (“chant, magic spell”), from Latin carmen (“song, incantation”).
- To seduce, persuade or fascinate someone or something.
“He charmed her with his dashing tales of his days as a sailor.”
“[…]they, on thir mirth & dance / Intent, with jocond Muſic charm his ear;”
- To use a magical charm upon; to subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to ensorcel or exert a magical effect on.
“After winning three games while wearing the chain, Dan began to think it had been charmed.”
“Nor no witch-craft charme thee.”
- To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences.
“She led a charmed life.”
“I, in mine owne woe charm’d, / Could not finde death,[…]”
- To make music upon.
“But ah my corage cooles ere it be warme, / For thy, content vs in thys humble ſhade: / Where no ſuch troublous tydes han vs aſſayde, / Here we our ſlender pipes may ſafely charme.”
- To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe.
“Music the fierceſt griefs can charm, / And fate's ſevereſt rage diſarm: […]”