enchantress

[en-chan-tris, -chahn-]

noun

1. a woman who practices magic; sorceress.

   Synonyms: siren, witch

2. an irresistibly charming or fascinating woman.

   an enchantress who breaks men's hearts.

   Synonyms: charmer, vamp, temptress, seductress

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of enchantress¹

1325–75; Middle English enchanteresse < Anglo-French, Middle French. See enchanter, -ess

Example Sentences

As his foremost inspiration, Mr. Barth cited Scheherazade, the tale-spinning enchantress who nightly wove stories to keep her master from executing her at dawn.

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When she’s on the stage, you can’t take your eyes off her; whether she is being regal, amorous or crushed by betrayal, she commands the space as if she really were an enchantress.

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A better one might be Medea, an enchantress in Greek myth who murdered her own children.

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"The evil spirit of Handel's enchantress Alcina evidently infected one audience member at Tuesday's premiere of this new production," he wrote.

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Describing herself as “a prominent author and Level 4 enchantress,” Fineman said, “I am ready to fight for the American dream — which I caught in this Tibetan singing bowl.”

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