First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
enchant
verb en·chant \in-ˈchant, en-\
: to attract and hold the attention of (someone) by being interesting, pretty, etc.
: to put a magic spell on (someone or something)
Full Definition of ENCHANT
transitive verb
1
: to influence by or as if by charms and incantation : bewitch
2
: to attract and move deeply : rouse to ecstatic admiration <the scene enchanted her to the point of tears — Elinor Wylie>
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Origin of ENCHANT
Middle English, from Anglo-French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- + cantare to sing — more at chant
Related to ENCHANT
Synonym Discussion of ENCHANT
attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence. attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another <students attracted by the school's locale>. allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive <an alluring smile>. charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response <charmed by their hospitality>, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration <her performances captivated audiences>. fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist <a story that continues to fascinate children>. enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject <hopelessly enchanted by her beauty>.
Other Occult Terms
Rhymes with ENCHANT
aslant, bacchant, bacchante, bezant, courante, decant, descant, displant, eggplant, enceinte, explant, extant, face-plant, fire ant, formant, gallant, Gallant, gas plant, grandaunt, houseplant, ice plant, implant, incant, jade plant, land grant, leadplant, levant, Levant, musk plant, pieplant, pissant, plainchant, pourpoint, preplant, recant, red ant, replant, savant, seed plant, snow plant, supplant, transplant, white ant
ENCHANT Defined for Kids
enchant
verb en·chant \in-ˈchant\
en·chant·eden·chant·ing
Definition of ENCHANT for Kids
1
: to put under a spell by or as if by magic : bewitch <… the Wicked Witch enchanted my axe … — L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz>
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