▪ I. charming, vbl. n.1
(ˈtʃɑːmɪŋ)
[f. charm v.1]
1. The operation or using of charms; the working of spells; enchantment, incantation.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28311, I..folud wiche-crafte and frete, and charmyng. c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 9 In this comandement es forboden..all wychecrafte and charemynge. 1388 Wyclif Jer. viii. 17 The werste serpentis, to whiche is no charmyng [1382 enchaunting]. 1570 B. Googe Pop. Kingd. iii. (1880) 33 Masse..makes their charmings vaine. 1647 May Hist. Parl. ii. i, The charmings of their Priests. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 214 It was supposed that serpents..had also a power of charming. 1850 N. & Q. Ser. i. II. 36/1 The power of curing diseases by ‘charming’. |
2. Fascination, charm (obs.); now gerundially, fascinating, delighting.
| 1720 Welton Suff. Son of God II. xiv. 383 Grant that I may be Ravisht with Thy Charmings. Mod. She has lost none of her power of charming. |
3. attrib. and Comb. (in sense 1), as charming-cup, charming-rod, charming-wand.
| 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. D ij, With thy charming wand. 1633 Massinger Guardian v. ii, Mercury Hath travelled this way with his charming-rod. 1642 Milton Apol. Smect. (1851) 272 Chastity and love..whose charming cup is only vertue. 1662 Ogilby King's Coronation 2 A bloody Sword in one Hand, a charming Rod in the other. |
▪ II. ˈcharming, vbl. n.2 ? Obs. rare.
[f. charm v.2 + -ing1.]
Giving tongue, ‘music’ (of beagles).
| a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xiii. 107 The..charming of Beagles, gnarring of Puppies. |
▪ III. ˈcharming, ppl. a.
[f. charm v.1 + -ing2.]
1. Using charms; exercising magic power.
| 1382 Wyclif 1 Kings xxviii. 7 Sechith to me a womman havynge a charmynge goost. 1483 Cath. Angl. 59 Charmynge, incantans, carminans, fascinans. 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xii. vii. 183 And beates downe frute with charming strokes. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iii. 31 Now helpe ye charming Spelles. 1712 Blackmore Creation vii. 550 Her charming Song the Syren sings in vain. |
2. a. Fascinating; highly pleasing or delightful to the mind or senses. (At first distinctly fig. from 1, but now used without any thought of that, and as a milder word than enchanting.)
| 1663 Gerbier Counsel A v b, A Palace, so charming as to hinder furious Mars himself to lay his destructive hands thereon. a 1700 Dryden Death very yng. Gentleman 3 O charming youth! in the first opening page. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 89 ¶3 She is however in my Eye a very charming old Woman. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xix. 60, I love that charming princess, if I may use so familiar an expression. 1840 Thackeray Catherine ii, Was not Wilkes the..charmingest..man? 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) III. 447 Children think variety charming. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 2 The Empress is looking charming. |
b. Used ironically.
| 1893 G. Gissing Odd Women 1. iv. 95 ‘If you are long away you find the table cleared.’ ‘Charming arrangement!’ 1959 Simpson & Galton Hancock 63 Doctor: I don't know and I don't care. Tony: Charming. That's the medical profession for you. 1969 Listener 3 July 29/1 This young man falls into bad 18th-century company, made here deliberately similar to bad 20th-century company. ‘Charming. That's just made my day,’ they say. 1977 Times 18 Oct. 3/2 Mr Greig had said he and his advisers would have to go away and work on the matter over the weekend to ‘throw some mud at you’. Mr. Boycott thought it had been ‘charming’. |
† 3. With a mixture of the sense of charm n.2
| 1643 Milton Divorce i. Pref., ad fin., To follow freely the charming pipe of him who sounded and proclaimed liberty and relief. 1671 ― P.R. ii. 363 And all the while harmonious airs were heard Of chiming strings or charming pipes. |