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., trans. Conq. W. India, 122. The Indians thought that the Spanyardes were inchaunted bycause their arrowes coulde not hurte them.
a. 1619. Daniel, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 399. T’ inchant your fame to last so long a while.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr. (1640), 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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. Shaks., 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, Godolphin, 13. Godolphin was enchanted at this proposal.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 68. Voltaire … is enchanted to hear that his niece reads the great English philosopher [Locke].
