English
enchanter
Enchanter comes from Old French enchanteor, from Latin incantō ‘to sing, to consecrate with spells’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantō‘to enchant, or call forth by charms, chant’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantōas incantāre‘to sing, to consecrate with spells’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantātor
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enchanteor
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enchantour
- Englishearliest quotation 1749enchanter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantō‘to enchant, or call forth by charms, chant’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantōas incantāre‘to sing, to consecrate with spells’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincantātor
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enchanteor
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enchantour
- Englishearliest quotation 1749enchanter
Earliest quotation: 1749, Henry Fielding, London: A[ndrew] Millar: “He was indeed as bitter an enemy to the…”
Formed from enchant + -er
Linked words
through Latin canō ‘to sing, recite, play’
accent, incentive, chanting, cantor, bazooka, recant, chantry, canticle, chanson, 44 more
through Latin cantō ‘to enchant, or call forth by charms, chant’
through Latin incantō ‘to sing, to consecrate with spells’
Today it means
noun One who enchants or delights.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- / enchanter