'charm-like' is a compound of the noun 'charm' and the suffix '-like'. 'charm' originates from Old French 'charme', ultimately from Latin 'carmen' meaning 'song, incantation', and the suffix '-like' comes from Old English '-līc' meaning 'having the form of' or 'like'.

'charm' came into Middle English from Old French 'charme' (from Latin 'carmen' 'incantation'), developing the sense of a magical spell or talisman; the adjectival element '-līc' in Old English evolved into the productive Modern English suffix '-like' used to form adjectives by the Late Middle English period, producing compounds such as 'charm-like' in modern usage.

Initially, 'charm' referred to a song or incantation (Latin 'carmen') and then to objects or words believed to have magical power; '-like' always denoted resemblance. Together, 'charm-like' has come to mean 'resembling a charm' either in a talismanic (magical) sense or in the sense of resembling charm (attractive quality).