bewitch

American  

[bih-wich] / bɪˈwɪtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to affect by witchcraft or magic; cast a spell over.

2. to enchant; charm; fascinate.

   The painter bewitched the crowd with his latest work.

   Synonyms:

   transport, enrapture, captivate

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verb (used without object)

1. to cause someone to be enchanted; cast a spell over someone.

   She lost her power to bewitch.

bewitch British  

/ bɪˈwɪtʃ /

verb

1. to attract and fascinate; enchant

2. to cast a spell over

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Other Word Forms

• bewitcher noun
• bewitchery noun
• bewitching adjective
• bewitchingly adverb
• bewitchingness noun
• bewitchment noun

Etymology

Origin of bewitch

First recorded in 1175–1225, bewitch is from the Middle English word biwicchen; be-, witch

Example Sentences

Of the ones that have survived, Isidora is the most bewitching, almost perfectly preserved and flawlessly executed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Gloriously unpredictable and, at times, impossible to read, they are wildly entertaining - bewildering, bewitching, brilliant.

From BBC

Advance single “Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit” is bewitching and emotionally resonant, like someone whispering a story into your ear over a beautifully jangly guitar line.

From The Wall Street Journal

Where “Arco” mesmerizes with its less-conventional animation style, “Little Amélie” employs swaths of eye-popping color, broad shapes and thoughtfully rendered two-dimensional art style and camera movements to bewitch slightly younger viewers.

From Salon

Unlike Godard, he doesn’t try to bewitch you with theory.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beguile
• captivate
• dazzle
• enchant
• enrapture
• enthrall
• fascinate
• hypnotize