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Webster 1913 Edition


Enchant

En-chant′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enchanted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Enchanting
.]
[F.
enchanter
, L.
incantare
to chant or utter a magic formula over or against one, to bewitch;
in
in, against +
cantare
to sing. See
Chant
, and cf.
Incantation
.]
1.
To charm by sorcery; to act on by enchantment; to get control of by magical words and rites.
And now about the caldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting
all that you put in.
Shakespeare
He is
enchanted
, cannot speak.
Tennyson.
2.
To delight in a high degree; to charm; to enrapture;
as, music
enchants
the ear
.
Syn. – To charm; bewitch; fascinate. Cf.
Charm
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Enchant

ENCH`ANT

,
Verb.
T.
[L. incanto; in and canto, to sing. See Chant and Cant.]
1.
To practice sorcery or witchcraft on any thing; to give efficacy to any thing by songs of sorcery, or fascination.
And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in.
2.
To subdue by charms or spells.
3.
To delight to the highest degree; to charm; to ravish with pleasure; as,the description enchants me; we were enchanted with the music.

Definition 2024


enchant

enchant

English

Alternative forms

Verb

enchant (third-person singular simple present enchants, present participle enchanting, simple past and past participle enchanted)

  1. To attract and delight, to charm.
    • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):
      New Jersey was reeling on Wednesday from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, which has caused catastrophic flooding here in Hoboken and in other New York City suburbs, destroyed entire neighborhoods across the state and wiped out iconic boardwalks in shore towns that had enchanted generations of vacationgoers.
  2. To cast a spell over.
    • 2009, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary, Paizo Publishing, ISBN 978-1-60125-183-1, page 241
      With the aid of his eponymous pipes, a satyr is capable of weaving a wide variety of melodic spells designed to enchant others and bring them in line with his capricious desires.

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