glamour English · revision 147
5 Oct 2026, 22:05 by bogdan “Add pronunciation, sense history, timeline, meanings, word family, related words” current version
Changes in this edit
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈɡlæmə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɡlæmɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+
==Etymology==
First recorded in 1715,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|sco|glamour|t=magic, enchantment]],^(AHD)^(Wiktionary) an alteration of [[grammar]] in its old sense of learning, especially occult learning,^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from the popular association of erudition with magic.^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) Compare [[gramarye]].^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It was introduced into the literary language by Sir Walter Scott.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
− The sense “magical beauty, alluring charm” is recorded by 1840.^(Etymonline) A connection with [[non|glámr]] has also been suggested.^(Wiktionary) Doublet of [[grimoire]].^(Wiktionary)
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ “Magic, enchantment, a spell”, especially in the phrase ''to cast the glamour''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The sense “magical or illusory beauty, alluring charm” is recorded by 1840,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the word's association with Hollywood, high fashion, and celebrity by 1939.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A connection with [[non|glámr]] has also been suggested,^(Wiktionary) and Jamieson's ''Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language'' (1808) looked to Old Norse for the source.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1715 – “magic, enchantment”.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1814 – verb, “to enchant, bewitch”.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1840 – “magical beauty, alluring charm”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1937 – colloquial “physical allure”, originally American.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1939 – associated with Hollywood and celebrity, as in ''glamour boy'', ''glamour girl''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An exciting, often illusory attractiveness; alluring charm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(archaic)'' A magic spell; enchantment.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[glamourless]]
+ * [[beglamour]]
+ * [[glam]]
+ * [[glamorous]]
+ * [[glamourous]]
+ * [[glamourize]]
+ * [[glamour-puss]]
+ * [[glamour girl]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[grammar]]
+ * [[gramarye]]
+ * [[grimoire]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Although American English usually spells words like ''honor'' and ''labor'' with ''-or'', the preferred American spelling of ''glamour'' is still ''-our'';^(AHD) the adjective is more often spelled ''glamorous'' in both American and British usage.^(AHD)
==References==