Charmingly

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a delightful and attractive manner that appeals to others and creates a pleasant impression
2. In an engaging and pleasing way that captivates and enchants others while leaving a positive impact
3. In a way that is irresistibly attractive and delightful, winning over the admiration and affection of those around

Etymology: The adverb "charmingly" is simply "charming" with the suffix "-ly" attached, and the ending has a longer ancestry than the word it sits on. The "-ly" traces back through Old English "-līce," a form of the noun "līc" meaning "body" or "form," so the suffix originally carried the sense of "in the likeness or manner of." Over the centuries it wore down to the two letters we use now, and it became the standard way to turn adjectives into adverbs. The adjective underneath, "charming," comes from "charm," which itself goes back to Latin "carmen," meaning "song" or "incantation." The idea was that a spoken or sung formula could bind or enchant someone, which is why the word for a pleasing quality and the word for magic share a root.

Synonyms: delightfully, pleasingly

Antonyms: unpleasantly