Part 179

Chark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charked (?).] To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.]

Char"la*tan (?), n. [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle like a thrush.] One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.

{ Char`la*tan"ic (?), Char`la*tan"ic*al (?), } a. Of or like a charlatan; making undue pretension; empirical; pretentious; quackish. -- Char`la*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.

Char"la*tan*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. charlatanisme.] Charlatanry.

Char"la*tan*ry (?), n. [F. charlatanrie, from It. ciarlataneria. See Charlatan.] Undue pretensions to skill; quackery; wheedling; empiricism.

Charles's Wain (?). [Charles + wain; cf. AS. Carles w&?;n (for wŠgn), Sw. karlvagnen, Dan. karlsvogn. See Churl, and Wain.] (Astron.) The group of seven stars, commonly called the Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear. See Ursa major, under Ursa.

&fist; The name is sometimes also applied to the Constellation.

Char"lock (?), n. [AS. cerlic; the latter part perh. fr. AS. leßc leek. Cf. Hemlock.] (Bot.) A cruciferous plant (Brassica sinapistrum) with yellow flowers; wild mustard. It is troublesome in grain fields. Called also chardock, chardlock, chedlock, and kedlock.

Jointed charlock, White charlock, a troublesome weed (Raphanus Raphanistrum) with straw-colored, whitish, or purplish flowers, and jointed pods: wild radish.

Char"lotte (?), n. [F.] A kind of pie or pudding made by lining a dish with slices of bread, and filling it with bread soaked in milk, and baked.

Charlotte Russe (&?;), or ||Charlotte Ó la russe [F., lit., Russian charlotte] (Cookery), a dish composed of custard or whipped cream, inclosed in sponge cake.

Charm (chńrm), n. [F. charme, fr. L. carmen song, verse, incantation, for casmen, akin to Skr. šasman, šasā, a laudatory song, from a root signifying to praise, to sing.] 1. A melody; a song. [Obs.]

With charm of earliest birds. Milton.

Free liberty to chant our charms at will. Spenser.

2. A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation.

My high charms work. Shak.

3. That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract; that which fascinates; any alluring quality.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Pope.

The charm of beauty's powerful glance. Milton.

4. Anything worn for its supposed efficacy to the wearer in averting ill or securing good fortune.

5. Any small decorative object worn on the person, as a seal, a key, a silver whistle, or the like. Bunches of charms are often worn at the watch chain.

Syn. - Spell; incantation; conjuration; enchantment; fascination; attraction.

Charm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Charming.] [Cf. F. charmer. See Charm, n.] 1. To make music upon; to tune. [Obs. & R.]

Here we our slender pipes may safely charm. Spenser.

2. To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to affect by magic.

No witchcraft charm thee! Shak.

3. To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe.

Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope.