The words grammar and glamour were once the same word. In medieval Scotland, grammar (Latin knowledge) was seen as magical. Knowledge became charm — literally.
Seriously...
Both grammar and glamour come from the same root: the Greek word gramma (γράμμα), meaning “letter” or “something written.”
In the Middle Ages, particularly in Scotland, grammar referred not just to language rules but to all scholarly learning, especially Latin. Since most common people couldn’t read, anything written —especially in Latin — seemed mysterious and even magical.
Over time in Scottish dialect, grammar took on an altered meaning. It began to refer to arcane knowledge or magic, because the learned (grammarians) seemed to wield supernatural power. This altered meaning gave rise to a corrupted form of the word: glamour.
So by the 1700s, glamour in Scots meant a magical enchantment or illusion. Later, it evolved in English to mean charm, allure, or an enchanting appearance — often without actual substance behind it. Think: a spell cast by style.
grammar = knowledge of letters, language, learning
glamour = a magical charm (originally linked to scholarly mystery)
