Charming

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɑː(ɹ).mɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Having a pleasant and attractive appearance or quality that appeals to others ; displaying a likable and engaging personality or behavior
2. Possessing features or qualities that enchant or please the senses ; showing a warm and appealing manner that draws people in
3. Exuding an allure or grace that captivates the eye or heart ; demonstrating a friendly and appealing character that creates positive impressions

Etymology: The adjective "charming" is a participle-turned-adjective built from "charm" and the suffix "-ing", and the older noun it grows from carries a much more dramatic history. "Charm" came into Middle English from Old French "charme," which traces back to Latin "carmen," meaning a song, incantation or formula. The sense of a spoken spell gave the word its enduring link to magic: to charm once meant to bind someone or something by chanting words of power, and a charm was the verse itself. Over the centuries that magical sense softened into something social. A person who could enchant others by sheer appeal came to be described as having the same power, so the adjective kept the sense of being irresistibly pleasing. Today "charming" describes people, places and manners that delight without any hint of sorcery left in the word.

Synonyms: delightful, enchanting, bewitching, captivating, appealing

Antonyms: unpleasant, disagreeable, off-putting, repellent, ugly