▪ I. † enˈchant, n. Obs. rare—1.
[f. next vb.]
Magic, enchantment.
| 1634 Malory's Arthur (1816) I. 120 By the damsel's enchant [1470–85 enchauntement], the sword Excalibur fell out of sir Accolon's hand. |
▪ II. enchant, v.
(ɛnˈtʃɑːnt, -æ-)
Forms: 4 enchaunten, 4–6 enchaunt, 6–8 incha(u)nt, 4– enchant.
[a. F. enchante-r:—L. incantāre, f. in- upon, against + cantāre to sing; cf. chant v., incantation.]
1. trans. To exert magical influence upon; to bewitch, lay under a spell. Also, to endow with magical powers or properties. Also fig.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 376 The frere with his phisik this folke hath enchaunted. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 137 With word the serpent is enchaunted. c 1440 York Myst. xxxiii. 288 He enchaunted & charmed oure knyghtis. 1578 T. N. tr. Conq. W. India 122 The Indians thought that the Spaniardes were inchaunted. a 1619 Daniel in Farr S.P. Eliz. (1845) II. 399 T' inchant your fame to last so long a while. 1635 E. Pagitt Christianography (1646) I. 235 Thus had the Popes by this time learnt to inchant these words of holy scripture, to make them serve for a cloake of disobedience. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xiv. 411 Cockering mothers inchant their sonnes to make them rod-free. 1741 Richardson Pamela I. 55 This little Slut has the Power of Witchcraft..she inchants all that come near her. 1772 Pennant Tours Scotl. (1774) 232 Both these amulets have been enchanted. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India I. ii. vii. 321 The murdered individual had enchanted them. |
| absol. 1610 Shakes. Temp. Epil. 13 Now I want Spirits to enforce: Art to inchant. |
† 2. fig. To influence irresistibly or powerfully, as if by a charm; to hold spellbound; in bad sense, to delude, befool. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 1395, I shal hym so enchaunten with my sawes. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 4187 Þan was Char[lis] enchanted so With þees traytour, and othre mo. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xlvi. 63 To forsake the kyng of Englande, who had enchaunted them. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 40 Speake Pucell, and enchaunt him with thy words. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. ii. 69 Philosophers, and Theologers enchanting mens Understandings. |
† b. To attract, win over, compel or induce, as if by magic (to do something). Obs. (cf. incentive).
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 288 Eueriche busshope..sholde fere hem [his people] fro synne..And enchaunte hem to charite. 1577 Holinshed Chron. III. 1106/1 Vnlearned men may be inchanted to thinke and iudge those that be things indifferent..to be great treasons. 1597 Shakes. Lover's Compl. 128 He..sexes both enchanted To dwell with him in thought. |
3. To charm, delight, enrapture.
Originally with conscious metaphor as in 2; now employed more freely, after the mod.Fr. use of enchanter.
| 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 145 Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear. 1672 Dryden Assignation ii. iii, This time I will absolutely inchant 'em. 1713 Steele Guardian No. 22 ¶1 Our eyes inchanted with flowery meadows. 1831 Lytton Godolph. 13 Godolphin was enchanted at this proposal. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 68 Voltaire is enchanted to hear that his niece reads..Locke. |