Charm Meaning
/tʃɑːm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation).
nounThe ability to persuade, delight or arouse admiration.
Sentence Examples
The charm of Kyoto consists of the beauty of its old temples.
The artist captured the charm of the lady.
He was a man of great charm.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her warm smile and kind words had a special ____ that made everyone feel at ease.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old cottage has a lot of ____ and is located near the river.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English charme, from Old French charme (“chant, magic spell”), from Latin carmen (“song, incantation”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The witch, repository of hieratic lore and folk legends and occult arcana, became the distributor of philtres and unguents, electuaries and pastilles, herbs and charms and incantations - directed toward sexual pleasures and amatory satisfactions."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 223:
"[…]the charm of Beauties powerful glance."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"Muſick has Charms to ſooth a ſavage Breaſt,
To ſoften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak."
— 1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 1:
"Charms ſtrike the ſight, but merit wins the ſoul."
— 1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto V, page 160:
"Her coyneſs was conquered by aſſiduity, and at laſt ſhe conſented to reſign the treaſure of her charms to my paſſion."
— 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 15:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her warm smile and kind words had a special ____ that made everyone feel at ease.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old cottage has a lot of ____ and is located near the river.