spell Hear it!

spell¹ Definition

spell (spel)

noun

  1. a word, formula, or form of words thought to have some magic power; incantation
  2. seemingly magical power or irresistible influence; charm; fascination
  3. a trance

Etymology: ME < OE, a saying, tale, charm, akin to Goth spill, tale < ? IE base *(s)pel-, to speak loudly

spell¹ Idioms

cast a spell on

  1. to put into, or as into, a trance
  2. to win the complete affection of

under a spell

held in a spell or trance; enchanted

spell² Definition

spell (spel)

transitive verb spelled or spelt, spell′·ing

  1. to name, write, or signal the letters which make up (a word, syllable, etc.), esp. the right letters in the right order, together with any required hyphens, apostrophes, accents, etc.
  2. to make up, or form (a word, etc.): said of specified letters
  3. to signify; mean hard work spelled success

Etymology: ME spellen < OFr espeller, to explain, relate < Frank *spellōn, akin to spell

intransitive verb

to spell a word, words, etc.; esp., to do so correctly

spell² Idioms

spell out

  1. to read letter by letter or with difficulty
  2. to make out, or discern, as if by close reading
  3. ☆ to explain exactly and in detail
spell³ Definition

spell (spel)

transitive verb spelled, spell′·ing

  1. Informal to serve or work in place of (another), esp. so as to give a period of rest to; relieve
  2. Chiefly Austral. to give a period of rest to

Etymology: ME spelien < OE spelian, to substitute for, akin to spala, a substitute

intransitive verb

Chiefly Austral. to take a period of rest or relief

noun

  1. a turn of serving or working in place of another
  2. a period or turn of work, duty, etc. a two-year spell as reporter
  3. a turn, period, or fit of something a spell of brooding
  4. a period of a specified sort of weather a cold spell
  5. Informal a period of time that is indefinite, short, or of a specified character
  6. ☆ Dialectal a short distance
  7. Informal a period or fit of some illness, indisposition, etc.
  8. Chiefly Austral. a period of rest or relief from activity

spell Synonyms

spell

n.

  1. A charm

    abracadabra, talisman, amulet; see charm 2.

  2. A period of time

    term, interval, season; see time 1.

  3. *An illness or a seizure

    stroke, spasm, turn; see fit 1, illness 1.

cast a spell on<strong> <em>or</em> </strong>over

enchant, bewitch, beguile; see charm 1.

under a spell

enchanted, bewitched, unable to resist; see charmed.

spell Usage Examples

Object

  • doom: But this might not necessarily spell economic doom - which so many would have us believe.
  • disaster: A weak link in the chain can spell disaster.
  • mistake: Make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
  • checker: Spell checker with customizable dictionary No more worries about a misspelled word or two.

Preposition: on

  • sideline: Meanwhile, Oxford defender Gavin Johnson faces a spell on the sidelines through injury.

Adjective modifier

  • sunny: For many places there were long, sunny spells during the day.
  • dizzy: Do not carry on if you are still feeling dizzy after a few minutes, or if you have a further dizzy spell.
  • magic: Within a few hours of playing the game I'm trying to increase my sneak skill whilst learning a new illusion magic spell.
  • brief: Adam joins us after a brief spell at London Welsh.
  • prolonged: For those glorious country lanes of prolonged spells of speed cruising a cat-back system desirable.
  • dry: Shoreham Beach Weather Station 30 June 2005 The long dry spell ended with 2 mm of rain on an overcast day.

Converse of object

  • cast: You cannot cast a spell, use a magical item, run, or attack for two seconds.
  • weave: And like the profuse intertwining vines, this Garden of Eden weaves a magic spell that blinds love forever.

Modifies a noun

  • checker: How about a spell checker on the submit post preview?
  • checking: Covers creating documents, editing, saving, printing, formatting and spell checking.
  • caster: A terrible lore that allows spell casters, both Arcane and Divine to rape the land of its very life to fuel their magic.
  • casting: All new spell casting ability allows players to morph their monkey ball, cleverly using their newfound powers to progress through the game.

Preposition: of

  • drizzle: On the W coast there were spells of drizzle as low cloud gradually moved in reaching here by 16 GMT.
  • weather: January mood: The month often starts with a prolonged spell of harsh weather, bringing bitter ice and snow.

Noun used with modifier

  • loan: He had only just returned from a loan spell at Norwich City for which he played five games.
spell Quotes

And may at last my weary age Find out the peaceful hermitage, The hairy gown and mossy cell, Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew, Till old experience to attain To something like prophetic strain.

—Milton,John

They spell it Vinci and pronounce it Vinchy; foreigners always spell better than they pronounce.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it. They spell it so abominably that no man can teach himself what it soundslike.It isimpossible foran Englishmanto openhis mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him.

—Shaw, George Bernard

I don't care what you sayabout me, as long as you say something about me, and as long as you spell my name right.

—Cohan, George M(ichael)

He is crazed with the spell of far Arabia, They have stolen his wits away.

—de la Mare,Walter

The night is darkening round me, The wild winds coldly blow; But a tyrant spell has bound me And I cannot, cannot go.

—Bronte«  , EmilyJane

Lo! as that youth's eyes burned at thine, so went Thy spell through him, and left his straight neck bent And round his heart one strangling golden hair. 698

—Rossetti, Dante Gabriel