1. ( sometimes l.c. ) a man who embodies a woman's romantic ideal.
2. a man who avidly seeks the attention and affections of women; ladies' man.
[ 1840-50; on the pattern of earlier King Charming, ult. trans. (with word order unchanged) of F Roi Charmant, the hero of a fairy tale by the Comtesse Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy (ca. 1650-1705) ]