Library / English Dictionary

ENCHANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something

Synonyms:

bewitch; enchant; glamour; hex; jinx; witch

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "enchant" is one way to...):

becharm; charm (control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enchant"):

voodoo (bewitch by or as if by a voodoo)

spell (place under a spell)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

enchanter (a sorcerer or magician)

enchantment (a magical spell)

enchantment (a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Attract; cause to be enamored

Example:

She captured all the men's hearts

Synonyms:

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "enchant" is one way to...):

appeal; attract (be attractive to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enchant"):

hold (hold the attention of)

work (gratify and charm, usually in order to influence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to enchant Sue

Derivation:

enchantment (a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Hold spellbound

Synonyms:

delight; enchant; enrapture; enthral; enthrall; ravish; transport

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "enchant" is one way to...):

delight; please (give pleasure to or be pleasing to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The good news will enchant her

Antonym:

disenchant (free from enchantment)

Derivation:

enchantment (a magical spell)

enchantment (a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He was enchanted by her approbation of his taste, confessed it to be neat and simple, thought it right to encourage the manufacture of his country; and for his part, to his uncritical palate, the tea was as well flavoured from the clay of Staffordshire, as from that of Dresden or Save.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

This new moon in graceful Pisces will invite enchanting social activity into your life.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

As he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle but empty and dreary within, for it was enchanted.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The superior hopes which gradually opened were so much the more enchanting.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Exactly!” cried Mr. Dick, who seemed quite enchanted by my reply.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The prospect of marrying a Christian and remaining in a country where women were allowed to take a rank in society was enchanting to her.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Thereupon the Wicked Witch enchanted my axe, and when I was chopping away at my best one day, for I was anxious to get the new house and my wife as soon as possible, the axe slipped all at once and cut off my left leg.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

They now proceeded to address divers remarks and reproofs to Miss Smith, who was charged with the care of the linen and the inspection of the dormitories: but I had no time to listen to what they said; other matters called off and enchanted my attention.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This could be an enchanting time for you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He found it situated, however, on a glass mountain, and looking up from the foot he saw the enchanted maiden drive round her castle and then go inside.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)