encharm
Definition
- Verb (transitive, archaic or literary):
- To enchant or captivate: "encharm" means to fill someone with delight, fascination, or charm; to cast a spell of attraction over someone.
- To bewitch or mesmerize: In older usage, it can refer to the magical act of charming or enchanting someone, often with a sense of overwhelming allure.
Usage Examples
- (Her voice captivated and delighted all listeners.)
- (The poet’s words fascinated and charmed the lover.)
- (The sorceress would bewitch or mesmerize travelers.)
Advanced Usage
"to encharm with": to use something as a means of captivating someone.
- He encharmed the crowd with his wit and humour. (He captivated the audience using his cleverness and jokes.)
"encharmed by": to be deeply fascinated or delighted by something.
- She was encharmed by the beauty of the sunset. (She was completely captivated by the sunset’s beauty.)
Variants and Related Words
Encharming (adj): having the quality of enchanting or captivating.
- The encharming melody lingered in her mind. (The melody was captivating and delightful.)
Encharmingly (adv): in a manner that enchants or charms.
- He smiled encharmingly at the children. (He smiled in a way that charmed them.)
Synonyms
- Enchant: to fill with great delight or to put under a spell.
- Captivate: to attract and hold the attention or interest of someone.
- Bewitch: to enchant or cast a spell on someone.
- Mesmerize: to hold someone’s attention completely.
Phrasal Verbs
- Encharm into: to persuade or influence someone through charm.
- She encharmed him into joining her adventure. (She charmed him so effectively that he agreed to join.)
Related Idioms
- To have an encharming effect: to produce a captivating or mesmerizing influence.
- The music had an encharming effect on the restless crowd. (The music calmed and captivated the crowd.)
Notes on Usage
This word is considered archaic or literary in modern English. It is rarely used in everyday conversation, but appears in poetry, historical texts, or stylized writing to evoke a sense of old-fashioned charm or magical allure. Do not confuse it with the more common "enchant," which has a similar but broader meaning.