charisma English · revision 2366

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈɹɪzmə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|χάρισμα|tr=khárisma|t=favour, divine gift]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''kharízesthai'' “to show favour”,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''kháris'' “grace, favour”,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) related to ''khaírein'' “to rejoice”,^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*gher-|t=to like, want]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) It replaced the earlier form ''charism''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A spiritual gift or power divinely conferred, as on the early Christians (1875).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Wiktionary) The form ''charism'' is attested in this sense from the 1640s,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and Middle English had ''karisme'' “divine grace”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The German sociologist Max Weber used the word for the gift of leadership or authority,^(Etymonline) a sense recorded in English from about 1930 (1947 according to Barnhart).^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)^(Barnhart 1995) It then broadened to strong personal appeal, especially of political figures, by the early 1960s,^(Barnhart 1995) and to personal charm in general by 1959.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a1641 – ''charism'', a gift from God.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1875 – a divinely conferred spiritual gift.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ * 1882 – ''charismatic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1930 – the gift of leadership and authority.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+ * 1959 – personal charm.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A rare personal quality of leadership that inspires popular devotion and enthusiasm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Personal magnetism or charm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(theology)'' An extraordinary power, such as healing or prophecy, granted by the Holy Spirit.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The special virtue attached to an office or position that is thought to give its holder authority.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[charismatic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[eucharist]]

+ * [[yearn]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}