enchanted and enchanting

Question

Hi teachers,I cannot tell a difference between the two words as adjectives.  Do they describe difference things?From dictionary:It's a beautiful, enchanted [=enchanting, captivating] place.? The story takes place in an enchanted forest.ThanksTN

Enoon · Accepted Answer

An enchanted forest has a spell on it. An enchanting forest puts a spell on you.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi enoon,

Do you mean they mean different things?

Thanks
TN

Enoon · Answer

Take your original example, "It is an enchanted place." There are two ways to interpret that, literally and figuratively. The figurative meaning of "enchanted" is close to the meaning of "enchanting" "causing a feeling of reverence and wonder".

Johnson13 · Answer

-Now the girl would live always in the young man's memory as he had seen her for those few enchanted hours of a June afternoon.

1. In this sentence, does ENCHANTED also meaning 'causing a feeling of reverence and wonder'?

2. Would it be better to change ENCHANTED to ENCHANTING? (because I think the writer would have liked to focus on the young man's being enchanted by those enchanting hours

Enoon · Answer

Johnson13-Now the girl would live always in the young man's memory as he had seen her for those few enchanted hours of a June afternoon.1. In this sentence, does ENCHANTED also meaning 'causing a feeling of reverence and wonder'?2. Would it be better to change ENCHANTED to ENCHANTING? (because I think the writer would have liked to focus on the young man's being enchanted by those enchanting hours

"Enchanted" is closer to the literal meaning of being under a magic spell. "Enchanting" is more figurative. The girl was enchanting, not the hours. The hours were not what cast the spell on him. She did. You should get out more.

Something enchanted has had a magic spell put on it, literally or figuratively. Something enchanting casts a spell on you, literally or figuratively.

enchanted and enchanting

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