charm

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   something believed to bring good luck

   They carried a rabbit's foot as a charm.

2. 2
   noun

   attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

   My date has a great deal of charm.

3. 3
   noun

   a verbal formula believed to have magical force

   I recited a charm to give me luck.

4. 4
   verb

   to induce into action by using one's charm

   They charmed me into giving all my money.

5. 5
   verb

   to attract

   They charmed me over dinner.

6. 6
   verb

   to control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft

   They charmed me with a strange incantation.

7. 7
   noun

   An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation).

   a charm against evil

8. 8
   noun

   The ability to persuade, delight or arouse admiration.

   He had great personal charm.

Etymology

Synchronically a variant of chirm, but reflects Middle English charme (or unattested *charm), from Old English ċearm (“cry, alarm”), from Proto-West Germanic *karm, masculine variant of *karmi f, from Proto-Germanic *karmiz, *karm(j)az (“cry, lament, calling sound”). Near-doublet of chirm, which is from the feminine counterpart.