charisma

charisma · noun¹

1. German · semantic loan fromCharisma
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromχᾰ́ρῐσμᾰ“grace, favour, gift”
3. English todaycharisma

From Ancient Greek χᾰ́ρῐσμᾰ (khắrĭsmă, “grace, favour, gift”), from χᾰρῐ́ζομαι (khărĭ́zomai, “to show favor”), from χᾰ́ρῐς (khắrĭs, “grace”), from the same root χαρ- (khar-) as χαίρω (khaírō, “to be happy”). Doublet of charism. First attested in 1875. Outside of theology, as early as 1930, charisma was found in a translation of a book written by German sociologist Max Weber, which OED and Etymonline regards as a semantic loan from German Charisma, denoting the special ability of certain leaders to inspire devotion (sense 1). By the 1940s and more clearly in the 1950s, the term was used more loosely to refer to personal charm in general (sense 1.1).

Charisma · proper noun²

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromχάρισμα
2. English todayCharisma

From the common noun charisma, from Ancient Greek χάρισμα (khárisma).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1930 A gift or power of leadership or authority.
• from 1930 The capacity to inspire devotion or enthusiasm; personal charm.
• from 1875 A gift or power bestowed upon a person by the Holy Spirit; a grace.