v. Forms: 4–5 anamo(u)r, -er, 4–9 enamor (6 ennamor), 5 enamur, 7 enamore, inamor, -our, 4– enamour. [a. OF. enamour-er, f. en- (see EN-1) + amour love (see AMOUR); equivalent formations are Pr., Sp., Pg. enamorar, It. innamorare.]
1. trans. To inspire or inflame with love. Chiefly pass. To be enamoured: to be in love. Const. of, † on, † upon, with. Also fig.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8170. A grete mayster and a syre Was anamourde so on hyre.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1606. She wex enamoured vpon this man.
1494. Fabyan, VI. clxxvii. 174. Of this Lowys, it is testifyed … that he shulde enamoure hymselfe vpon a menchon [i.e., nun].
1530. Palsgr., 532/1. She hath as many craftes to enamour a foole upon her as any queene in this towne.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 2 Cor. iii. 8. So is oure soule euerye daye more and more secreatelye enamoured.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., IV. i. 82. Me-thought I was enamoured of an Asse.
a. 1626. W. Sclater, Sermons Experimentall (1638), 210. Methinks, therefore, that I might enamore you of love towards this mercy of God in Christ Jesus.
1629. Donne, Whitsunday Serm., Gen. i. 2 (1640), xxxi. 308. Lord thou hast enamoured mee, made me in love.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 211. Should she … Descend with all her winning charms begirt To enamour.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Solicitude, 5. With her mien she enamours the brave.
1801. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., I. 336. It appears that he was much enamored of one of the Koorg Rajah’s sisters.
1858. Longf., Epimeth., x. Him whom thou dost once enamour.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 32. Where that lady lives of whom enamoured was my soul.
2. In weaker sense: To charm, delight, fascinate. Chiefly pass. Const. of, † on, † with.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 141. Mine eare is much enamored of thy note.
1647. Saltmarsh, Sparkl. Glory (1847), 107. Those only graces that the world can … be enamoured on in God’s people.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 11. Whether that Anger, that Revenge, that Wantonness and Ambition … could have at all affected or enamour’d the mind of the same Socrates.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 55. Lord Davers himself is become inamour’d of your Letters.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 83. You see why they are so much enamoured of your fair and equal representation.
1866. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 262. In reference to your Shakespeare queries, I am not so much enamoured of the first and third subjects as I am of the Ariosto enquiry.
¶ 3. To desire passionately, fall in love with.
1854. Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 445. The pining spirit Which doth enamour immortality.
