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charm
charm / chärm/ • n. 1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration: he was captivated by her youthful charm. ∎ (usu. charms) an attractive or alluring characteristic: the charms of the city. 2. a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet. 3. an object, act, or saying believed to have magic power. ∎ an object kept or worn to ward off evil and bring good luck. 4. Physics one of six flavors of quark. • v. [tr.] 1. delight greatly: the books have charmed children the world over. ∎ gain or influence by charm: he charmed her into going out. 2. control or achieve by or as if by magic: pretending to charm a cobra she will charm your warts away. PHRASES: turn on the charm use one's ability to charm in order to influence someone. work like a charm be completely successful or effective. ORIGIN: Middle English (in the senses ‘incantation or magic spell’ and ‘to use spells’): from Old French charme (noun), charmer (verb), from Latin carmen ‘song, verse, incantation.’ |
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"charm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "charm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-charm.html "charm." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-charm.html |
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Charm (Carmen)
Charm (Carmen)A magical formula, sung or recited to bring about a supposedly beneficial result as part of a spell, or to confer magical efficacy on an amulet. In popular usage the same word is employed to designate the incantation and the object that is charmed. Sources:A Gypsy Queen. Zingara Fortune Teller. Philadelphia: David McKay, 1901. Lippman, Deborah, and Paul Colin. How to Make Amulets, Charms, & Talismans. New York: M. Evans, 1974. Sepharial [Walter Gorn Old]. The Book of Charms and Talismans. New York: Arc Books, 1969. |
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"Charm (Carmen)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charm (Carmen)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403800992.html "Charm (Carmen)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403800992.html |
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charm
charm magical formula or incantation , spoken or sung, for the purpose of securing blessing, good fortune, or immunity from evil. It presupposes a belief in demons or malignant spirits. The formula was frequently inscribed upon an amulet , talisman, or trinket to be worn for protection. |
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"charm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "charm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-charm.html "charm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-charm.html |
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Charm
Charma medley of goldfinches, 1430; the blended voices of a choir; a noise or confusion of voices as of children or birds. Examples: charm of angels, 1530; of birds [a group of singing birds]; of choristers; of goldfinches, 1430. |
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"Charm." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Charm." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300278.html "Charm." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300278.html |
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charm
charm incantation, enchantment XIII; amulet XVI; attractive quality XVII. — (O)F. charme :- L. carmen, carmin- song, oracular response, incantation.
So charm vb. enchant XIV; fascinate XV. |
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T. F. HOAD. "charm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "charm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-charm.html T. F. HOAD. "charm." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-charm.html |
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charm
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Cite this article
"charm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "charm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-charm.html "charm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-charm.html |
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