enamor
Americanverb (used with object)
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to fill or inflame with love (usually used in the passive and followed by of or sometimeswith ).
to be enamored of a certain lady; a brilliant woman with whom he became enamored.
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to charm or captivate (usually used in the passive and followed by of , with , or sometimesby ).
Other Word Forms
- enamoredness noun
Etymology
Origin of enamor
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English enamouren, from Old French enamourer; en- 1, amour
Explanation
When you are enamored by something or someone, you love it. It attracts you. You might say that you're enamored with your new car, or enamored of the new kid in school. Enamor is a strange verb––it doesn't mean anything on its own. One cannot just enamor––that means nothing. One cannot even enamor something––that also is a meaningless proposition. Rather, you're enamored by the thing that attracts you. The verb is almost always used in a passive construction.
Vocabulary lists containing enamor
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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UCPS 6th Grade Roots List #3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So yeah, calling Kuechly a sure thing isn't going to do much to enamor Seahawks fans with the idea of their team choosing him with the No. 12 overall pick.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2012
His work with prints helped spread his fame around the world, although they did little to enamor the critics who became increasingly hostile to his work.
From Reuters • Sep. 19, 2011
In the meantime Kimaga had become so enamor of the letter that he could not bear to let it go out of his possession.
From The Girl and The Bill An American Story of Mystery, Romance and Adventure by Merwin, Bannister
Phantasms these That now enamor us decrepit, by The light of that prime beauty!
From Modern Italian Poets Essays and Versions by Howells, William Dean
I say that when I think upon her worth, So sweet doth Love make himself feel to me, That if I then did not my courage lose, Speaking I would enamor all mankind.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 16, February, 1859 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
