Spell Definition

spĕl
spelled, spelling, spells, spelt
verb
spelled, spelling, spells, spelt
To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word).
American Heritage
To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch.
American Heritage
To spell a word, words, etc.; esp., to do so correctly.
Webster's New World
To make up, or form (a word, etc.)
Webster's New World
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.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
spells
A word, formula, or form of words having some magic power; incantation.
Webster's New World
Seemingly magical power or irresistible influence; charm; fascination.
Webster's New World
A trance.
Webster's New World
A turn of serving or working in place of another.
Webster's New World
A period of a specified sort of weather.
A cold spell.
Webster's New World
idiom
cast a spell on
  • to put into, or as into, a trance
  • to win the complete affection of
Webster's New World
under a spell
  • held in a spell or trance; enchanted
Webster's New World
spell out
  • to read letter by letter or with difficulty
  • to make out, or discern, as if by close reading
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Spell

Noun

Singular:
spell
Plural:
spells

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Spell

Origin of Spell

  • From Old English spel, spellian, spelian, from Proto-Germanic *spellÄ…, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *spel- (“to tell"). Cognate with dialectal German Spill, spellen and Albanian fjalë (“word").

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French espel(l)er (> Modern French épeler), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *spel- (“to speak").

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English spelen to spare from Old English spelian to represent, substitute for

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English spellen to read letter by letter from Old French espeller of Germanic origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian, akin to spala (“substitute").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English discourse from Old English

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Origin uncertain; perhaps a form of speld.

    From Wiktionary

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