charmant French · revision 17516

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1550, Ronsard|origins=la carmen}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃaʁ.mɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''charmant''' (feminine charmante, masculine plural charmants, feminine plural charmantes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the present participle [[der|fr|charmer|t=to charm, bewitch]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) [[charmer|alt=Charmer]] continues Late Latin [[m|la-lat|carminō|t=to enchant]], a derivative of [[la|carmen|t=song; incantation]], whose sense developed in the same way.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ronsard uses it in 1550 for what casts a spell, what bewitches.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century the strong sense “exerting a powerful attraction on the senses, the heart or the mind” was the classical one, as in Racine's ''Phèdre''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989) The weaker sense “very pleasant, delightful” dates from the middle of the 17th century and is now the usual one.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) The ironic use, of an unpleasant person or situation (''charmante soirée !''), is recorded by Larousse in 1866;^(GLLF 1989) Littré already noted ''il est charmant'' said of someone making unreasonable demands.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ The ''prince charmant'' of fairy tales came to mean the ideal young man a girl dreams of.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1550 – Ronsard uses ''charmant'' “bewitching”.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * Mid-17th century – The sense “very pleasant” appears.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1694 – The Académie records the word.^(TLFi)

+ * 1866 – Larousse records the ironic use.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having great [[m|en|charm]]; [[m|en|captivating]], [[m|en|seductive]]: ''le prince charmant''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Very pleasant to look at or to be with; [[m|en|delightful]], [[m|en|lovely]]: ''un village charmant''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(of people)'' [[m|en|kind|alt=Kind]], [[m|en|amiable]], obliging: ''charmant avec ses invités''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(ironic, before the noun)'' Unpleasant: ''charmante soirée !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[charme]]

+ * [[charmer]]

+ * [[charmeur]]

+ * [[la|carmen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}