# enchanted

/ɛnˈtʃænɪd/ (US) · /ɛntʃˈɑːntɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enchanted
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. magical

adjective · CEFR B2 · Literary

placed under a magic spell or having magical qualities.

For teachers: subject to magical influence or charms; often used to describe settings in folklore or fantasy.

- The children believed they had found an enchanted forest where the trees could talk.
- The protagonist wanders through an enchanted landscape where the laws of physics are superseded by ancient, capricious magic.

### 2. delighted

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling very pleased, interested, or charmed by someone or something.

For teachers: utterly charmed, delighted, or captivated by a person, performance, or situation.

- I was enchanted by the small mountain village and decided to stay for a week.
- The audience remained enchanted throughout the recital, captivated by the young pianist's technical precision and emotional depth.

### 3. polite greeting

interjection · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

a very formal way to say 'nice to meet you'.

For teachers: a formulaic social greeting used upon introduction to express pleasure at meeting someone.

- "Enchanted," he said, bowing slightly as he was introduced to the guest of honour.
- In the nineteenth-century salon, a gentleman might murmur "enchanted" while bowing to a lady, though such formalities have largely vanished from modern discourse.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic and very formal; learners should use 'pleased to meet you' or 'nice to meet you' in modern contexts.

## Examples

- The children were enchanted by the colorful puppet show.
- She stood by the lake, enchanted by the way the moonlight reflected off the still water.
- Visitors to the ancient library often find themselves enchanted by the scent of old parchment and the hushed atmosphere of centuries of preserved knowledge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.