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charisma

Etymology and origin of the English word charisma

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Formation
Borrowing
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek χάρισμα

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kəˈɹɪzmə/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek χάρισμα (khárisma, “favour, divine gift”),[2][3][4][5] from kharízesthai “to show favour”,[2][3][4][5] from kháris “grace, favour”,[2][3][5] related to khaírein “to rejoice”,[3][4][5] from Proto-Indo-European *gher- (“to like, want”).[5][2] It replaced the earlier form charism.[4][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A spiritual gift or power divinely conferred, as on the early Christians (1875).[5][4][1] The form charism is attested in this sense from the 1640s,[5][4] and Middle English had karisme “divine grace”.[5]

Semantic evolution

The German sociologist Max Weber used the word for the gift of leadership or authority,[5] a sense recorded in English from about 1930 (1947 according to Barnhart).[5][3][1][4] It then broadened to strong personal appeal, especially of political figures, by the early 1960s,[4] and to personal charm in general by 1959.[5]

Timeline

  • a1641 – charism, a gift from God.[4][5]
  • 1875 – a divinely conferred spiritual gift.[5][4][1]
  • 1882 – charismatic.[4]
  • 1930 – the gift of leadership and authority.[3][5][1]
  • 1959 – personal charm.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A rare personal quality of leadership that inspires popular devotion and enthusiasm.
  2. Personal magnetism or charm.
  3. (theology) An extraordinary power, such as healing or prophecy, granted by the Holy Spirit.
  4. The special virtue attached to an office or position that is thought to give its holder authority.

Word family

  • charismatic
  • eucharist
  • yearn

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House

Related etymologies

  • demagogue · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • cauldron · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • cadaver · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • assuage · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • apocalypse · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • anathema · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • amethyst · also from Proto-Indo-European
  • candidate · also from Proto-Indo-European
Cite this entry

“Charisma.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/charisma. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·