Charm

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /tʃɑːm/

Definitions

1. An appealing or attractive quality that draws attention ; a small object believed to have magical powers for protection or luck ; the act of delighting or enchanting someone by pleasing or captivating them
2. A pleasing trait that makes someone or something likable ; a talisman or amulet thought to bring good fortune or ward off evil ; the process of captivating someone's interest or affection through pleasing actions
3. A characteristic that causes admiration or affection ; a token with supposed magical abilities to influence events ; the action of enchanting or winning over by pleasing qualities or behavior

Etymology: The most surprising thread here is that "charm" once meant a cry. Its oldest English ancestor, "ċearm," meant a loud cry, lament or calling sound, and the same Germanic root gave rise to "chirm," a word for a bird's chirping or a noisy din. Over time the sense of "charm" shifted from noise toward the incantations that were chanted or sung, and that is where the magical meaning comes from. The main line of descent is different. Medieval English borrowed "charme" from Old French, where it meant a chant or magic spell. That French word came from Latin "carmen," meaning song or incantation, so the idea of a sung formula sits at the heart of both routes. The French-derived form replaced the native Old English "lybb," which meant drug, poison or charm. Because the two lines ran side by side, "charm" and "chirm" are near-doublets: they split from one Germanic source and now look and sound alike. The sense of attraction or delight grew naturally from the older idea of an enchanting spell.

Synonyms: attraction, appeal, enchantment, fascination, allure

Antonyms: repulsion, displeasure, disgust, aversion, dullness