charming

English

Etymology

From Middle English charmynge; equivalent to charm +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtʃɑː(ɹ).mɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)mɪŋ

Adjective

charming (comparative more charming or (nonstandard) charminger, superlative most charming or (nonstandard) charmingest or (nonstandard) charmest)

1. Pleasant, charismatic.

   Synonyms: charismatic, smart, witty, taking, fetching, captivating

   Antonyms: dull, charmless

   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 6:

     "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

   • 2012 May 24, Nathan Rabin, “Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     In the abstract, Stuhlbarg’s twinkly-eyed sidekick suggests Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon 2 by way of late-period Robin Williams with an alien twist, but Stuhlbarg makes a character that easily could have come across as precious into a surprisingly palatable, even charming man.

2. Delightful in a playful way which avoids responsibility or seriousness, as if attracting through a magical charm.

   Antonyms: silly, charmless

Derived terms

• charmingly
• charmingness
• Prince Charming
• ultracharming
• uncharming

Translations

pleasant, charismatic

Armenian: հմայիչ (hy) (hmayičʻ) Bulgarian: чаровен (bg) (čaroven), очарователен (bg) (očarovatelen) Catalan: encantador, encisador Chinese: Mandarin: 迷人 (zh) (mírén) Czech: okouzlující (cs) m Dutch: charmant (nl) Estonian: võluv, kütkestav, veetlev Finnish: hurmaava (fi), viehättävä (fi), ihastuttava (fi) French: charmant (fr) Galician: encantador m, churrusqueiro (gl) German: charmant (de) Greek: Ancient: ἐπίχαρις (epíkharis) Hebrew: מקסים (he) m (maksím) Hindi: आकर्षक (hi) (ākarṣak), मोहक (hi) (mohak), मदिर (hi) (madir), मनोहर (hi) (manohar) Italian: affascinante (it) Korean: 귀엽다 (ko) (gwiyeopda) Latin: venustus, amoenus Maori: whakaharatau, turipū Norwegian: sjarmerende (no) Occitan: charmant Plautdietsch: leeftolich Polish: uroczy (pl) m Portuguese: encantador (pt), simpático (pt), charmoso (pt) Romanian: șarmant (ro), fermecător (ro), încântător (ro), charismatic Russian: очарова́тельный (ru) (očarovátelʹnyj), преле́стный (ru) (preléstnyj) Spanish: encantador (es) Swedish: charmig (sv) Yiddish: חנעוודיק (kheynevdik), באַחנט (bakheynt)

Verb

charming

1. present participle and gerund of charm

Noun

charming (plural charmings)

1. The casting of a magical charm.
   • 1616, Thomas Middleton, The Witch:

     They denied me often flour, barm and milk, / Goose-grease and tar, when I ne'er hurt their charmings, / Their brewlocks, nor their batches, nor forespoke / Any of their breedings.

Derived terms

• snake charming
• worm charming

Interjection

charming

1. (chiefly British, ironic) Used in response to behaviour or language considered offensive or uncouth.
   • 2009 November 26, Peter Bradshaw, “Review: Law Abiding Citizen”, in The Guardian‎:

     The other murderer is sadistically hacked to pieces, while the proceedings are being videoed – and the DVD is sent to Nick's home so that his daughter can see it. Oh, charming.

Anagrams

• marching