spell
19 dictionary results for: Spell
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
spell1 
[spel] Pronunciation Key verb, spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
—Related forms
[spel] Pronunciation Key verb, spelled or spelt, spell·ing. –verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
—Verb phrases
| 1. | to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): Did I spell your name right? |
| 2. | (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.): The letters spelled a rather rude word. |
| 3. | to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often fol. by out): She painfully spelled out the message. |
| 4. | to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often fol. by out). |
| 5. | to signify; amount to: This delay spells disaster for us. |
| 6. | to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly. |
| 7. | to express words by letters, esp. correctly. |
| 8. | spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match. |
| 9. | spell out,
|
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME spellen < OF espeller < Gmc; cf. OE spellian to talk, announce (deriv. of spell spell2), OHG -spellōn, ON spjalla, Goth spillōn]
] —Related forms
spell·a·ble, adjective
—Synonyms 5. foretell, portend, mean, promise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
spell2
[spel] Pronunciation Key,
[spel] Pronunciation Key, –noun
| 1. | a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation: The wizard cast a spell. |
| 2. | a state or period of enchantment: She was under a spell. |
| 3. | any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination: the spell of fine music. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
spell3
[spel] Pronunciation Key,
[spel] Pronunciation Key, –noun
–verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
| 1. | a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel. |
| 2. | a turn of work so taken. |
| 3. | a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing. |
| 4. | an indefinite interval or space of time: Come visit us for a spell. |
| 5. | a period of weather of a specified kind: a hot spell. |
| 6. | Australian. a rest period. |
| 7. | Archaic. a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another. |
| 8. | to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel. |
| 9. | Australian. to declare or give a rest period to. |
| 10. | Australian. to have or take a rest period. |
[Origin: 1585–95; (v.) alter. of earlier spele to stand instead of, relieve, spare, ME spelen, OE spelian; akin to OE spala, gespelia a substitute; (n.) akin to the v. (perh. continuing OE gespelia)]
] —Synonyms 4. while, bit, piece.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| spell 1
(spěl) Pronunciation Key
v. spelled or spelt (spělt), spell·ing, spells v. tr.
v. intr. To form words by means of letters. Phrasal Verb(s): spell down To defeat in a spelling bee. spell out
[Middle English spellen, to read letter by letter, from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin.] |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| spell 2
(spěl) Pronunciation Key
n.
tr.v. spelled, spell·ing, spells To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch. [Middle English, discourse, from Old English.] |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| spell 3
(spěl) Pronunciation Key
n.
v. spelled, spell·ing, spells v. tr.
v. intr.
[From Middle English spelen, to spare, from Old English spelian, to represent, substitute for.] |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
spell (v.1)
spell (v.1)
"name the letters of," O.E. spellian "to tell, speak," infl. by O.Fr. espeller "declare, spell," from Frank. *spellon "to tell;" both O.E. and Frank. from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.H.G. spellon "to tell," O.N. spjalla, Goth. spillon "to talk, tell"), from PIE *spel- "to say aloud, recite." Meaning "write or say the letters of a word" is c.1400, from notion of "read letter by letter, read with difficulty" (c.1300). Spell out "explain step-by-step" is first recorded 1940, Amer.Eng. Spelling bee is from 1878 (earlier simply spelling, 1860).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
spell (n.)
spell (n.)
"incantation, charm," O.E. spell "story, speech," from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.N. spjall, O.H.G. spel, Goth. spill "report, discourse, tale;" Ger. Beispiel "example;" see spell (v.1)). Meaning "set of words with magical powers, incantation, charm" first recorded 1579. Spellbound is attested from 1799, from bound "fastened."
"The term 'spell' is generally used for magical procedures which cause harm, or force people to do something against their will -- unlike charms for healing, protection, etc." ["Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
spell (v.2)
spell (v.2)
"work in place of (another)," O.E. spelian "to take the place of," related to gespelia "substitute," of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to spilian "to play" (see spiel). The noun meaning "indefinite period of time" first recorded 1706.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| spell | |
noun | |
| 1. | a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation [syn: enchantment] |
| 2. | a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work" [syn: go] |
| 3. | a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"; "a patch of bad weather" [syn: while] |
| 4. | a verbal formula believed to have magical force; "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"; "inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese" |
verb | |
| 1. | orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of; "How do you spell this word?" "We had to spell out our names for the police officer" |
| 2. | indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!" |
| 3. | write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word); "He spelled the word wrong in this letter" |
| 4. | relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn; "She spelled her husband at the wheel" |
| 5. | place under a spell [ant: unspell] |
| 6. | take turns working; "the workers spell every four hours" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This
spell
In addition to the idiom beginning with spell, also see cold snap (spell); under someone's spell.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Jargon File 4.2.0
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, n. [OE. speld, AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle, G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet. Cf. Spillsplinter, roll of paper, Spell to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.] --Holland.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [AS. spelian to supply another's place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, n. 1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead. A spell at the wheel is called a trick. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 2. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks. Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather. --Washington. 3. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells. [R.] Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells. --Garew. 4. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell. [Local, U.S.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS. & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill. Cf. Gospel, Spell to tell the letters of.]1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] "Hearken to my spell." --Chaucer. 2. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm. Start not; her actions shall be holy as You hear my spell is lawful. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelledor Spelt; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [OE. spellen, spellien, tell, relate, AS. spellian, fr. spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spill?n.e Spell a tale. In sense 4 and those following, OE. spellen, perhaps originally a different word, and from or influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf. D. spellen to spell. Cf. Spell splinter.]1. To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.] Might I that legend find, By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes. --T. Warton. 2. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. "Spelled with words of power." --Dryden. He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot. --Sir G. Buck. 3. To constitute; to measure. [Obs.] The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect. --Fuller. 4. To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography. The word "satire" ought to be spelled with i, and not with y. --Dryden. 5. To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; -- usually with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible. To spell out a God in the works of creation. --South. To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Spell
Spell\, v. i. 1. To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing. When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell, And he a god, who could but read or spell. --Dryden. 2. To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study. [Obs.] Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Share This:
Copyright © 2008, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
