Forms: 4–6 enchaunteresse, 6 enchanteresse, 6–8 inchantresse, 8– enchantress. [a. OF. enchanteresse, fem. of enchantere, -eor ENCHANTER.] A female enchanter.

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  1.  A female who employs magic; a witch, sorceress. Also fig.

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c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iv. 123. O feble and lyȝt is þe hand of Circes þe enchaunteresse.

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1480.  Caxton, Ovid’s Met., XII. xii. Broteon and … Orion wer sones of Mycale the enchaunteresse.

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1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 538. A develish Witch, and a fanaticall Enchaunteresse.

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1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 299. Endor, famous by reason of the Inchantresse.

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1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., II. iii. (1851), 157. The fucus which these inchantresses … have laid upon the features … of Truth.

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1725.  Pope, Odyss., X. 162. The soft Enchantress dame … to whom the powers belong Of dreadful magic.

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1794.  G. Adams, Nat. & Exp, Philos., II. xxi. 389. Philosophy becomes a vain babbler, and Religion a superstitious enchantress.

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1815.  Moore, Lalla R. (1824), 414. The Enchantress now begins her spell.

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  2.  fig. A charming or bewitching woman.

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1713.  C’tess Winchilsea, Misc. Poems, 194. There shalt thou meet Of soft Enchantresses th’ Enchantments sweet.

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1866.  Miss Braddon, Lady’s Mile, I. i. 7. The girl he loved was the most capricious little enchantress who ever studied the prettiest method of breaking her adorers’ hearts.

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