enchanting
UK[ɪnˈtʃɑːntɪŋ]US[ɪnˈtʃæntɪŋ]
adj
very pleasant or attractive; charming
adj
seeming to have a magical quality
Morpheme Breakdown
en
chant
ing
en
to put into, to cause to be
chant
to sing, to utter a formulaic sound
ing
Etymology
the word "enchanting" originates from the latin verb 'incantare', meaning "to sing spells upon, to bewitch". this is composed of the prefix 'in-' (into, upon) and 'cantare' (to sing). it entered english via old french 'enchanter', carrying the literal sense of casting a spell through song or incantation. over time, the meaning softened and broadened from the literal act of magical bewitchment to the figurative sense of delightfully charming or captivating someone, as if by magic.
Analysis
Structure: en + chant + ing
- en: a prefix of latin origin via french, meaning "to put into, to cause to be".
- chant: a root of latin origin (from 'cantare', to sing), here meaning "to sing, to utter a formulaic sound".
- ing: an english suffix forming the present participle, used here to create an adjective.
Examples
the garden looked enchanting in the moonlight.
she has an enchanting smile that lights up the room.
the storyteller told an enchanting tale of dragons and heroes.