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ENCHANTMENT
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A magical spell
Synonyms:
bewitchment; enchantment
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("enchantment" is a kind of...):
black art; black magic; necromancy; sorcery (the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world)
Derivation:
enchant (cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something)
enchant (hold spellbound)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
Synonyms:
captivation; enchantment; enthrallment; fascination
Classified under:
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions
Hypernyms ("enchantment" is a kind of...):
liking (a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment)
Derivation:
enchant (attract; cause to be enamored)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("enchantment" is a kind of...):
mental condition; mental state; psychological condition; psychological state ((psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "enchantment"):
possession (being controlled by passion or the supernatural)
captivation; fascination (the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror))
Derivation:
enchant (cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something)
enchant (hold spellbound)
Context examples:
But he would not, and said that it would be a very hazardous thing; for if the least ray of the torch-light should fall upon him his enchantment would become still worse, for he should be changed into a dove, and be forced to wander about the world for seven long years.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
When I walked alone in the fine weather, and thought of the summer days when all the air had been filled with my boyish enchantment, I did miss something of the realization of my dreams; but I thought it was a softened glory of the Past, which nothing could have thrown upon the present time.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The wise woman said: There is some enchantment behind it, listen very early some morning if anything is moving in the room, and if you see anything, no matter what it is, throw a white cloth over it, and then the magic will be stopped.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
As he drew near, the raven said, “I am by birth a king’s daughter, but am now under the spell of some enchantment; you can, however, set me free.” “What am I to do?” he asked.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
The young princess, you may be sure, was not long in saying Yes to all this; and as they spoke a gay coach drove up, with eight beautiful horses, decked with plumes of feathers and a golden harness; and behind the coach rode the prince’s servant, faithful Heinrich, who had bewailed the misfortunes of his dear master during his enchantment so long and so bitterly, that his heart had well-nigh burst.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
