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enchantment (n.)
c. 1300, enchauntement, "act of magic or witchcraft; use of magic; magic power," from Old French encantement "magical spell; song, concert, chorus," from enchanter "bewitch, charm," from Latin incantare "enchant, cast a (magic) spell upon," from in- "upon, into" (from PIE root *en "in") + cantare "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing"). Figurative sense of "allurement" is from 1670s. Compare Old English galdor "song," also "spell, enchantment," from galan "to sing," which also is the source of the second element in nightingale.
updated on May 09, 2020
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Dictionary entries near enchantment
enchain
enchant
enchanted
enchanter
enchanting
enchantment
enchantress
encharge
enchilada
enchiridion
encircle