A special spiritual gift or talent believed to be given by God; a compelling charm or appeal that causes people to follow someone.
From Greek 'charisma' meaning 'grace' or 'favor,' derived from 'charis' (grace), which also gives us 'charity.' The term entered modern religious and secular use through German theologian Max Weber's concept of charismatic authority.
The word 'charism' once meant only spiritual grace, but Max Weber transformed it into a sociology term in 1922, showing how a 2000-year-old Greek word can suddenly become crucial to understanding modern leadership and power.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.