unspellv.
1. transitive. To undo or dissolve (a spell).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)] > disenchant > counteract power of a charm or spell
uncharm1575
countercharm1584
unspell1611
decharm1666
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Descharmer, to vncharme, vnspell, frustrate a charme.
1671 S. Tuke Adventures of Five Hours (rev. ed.) v. 94 Her. Sure w'are enchanted, and all we see's illusion. Cam. Allow me, Henrique, to unspel these Charms.
2. To free from a spell.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [verb (transitive)] > disenchant
unwitch1571
unbewitch?1572
disenchant1590
uncharm1621
discharm1634
unspell1635
disconjure1644
unmagic1650
disencharm1651
unenchant1654
1635 F. Quarles Emblemes iv. xv. 242 Ah, if my voice could, Orpheus-like, unspell My poore Eurydicé, my soule, from hell.
1682 N. Tate & J. Dryden 2nd Pt. Absalom & Achitophel 5 Such Practices as These, too gross to lye Long unobserv'd,..The more judicious Israelites Unspell'd, Though still the Charm the giddy Rabble held.
1890 G. L. Gomme Handbk. Folklore 132 A prince is transformed into a loathsome beast;..he is unspelled and they marry.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > reading > [verb (transitive)] > to decipher or interpret, read
areadc885
unspell1665
reada1681
decipher1709
to make out1715
render1864
1665 J. Sergeant in K. Digby Two Treat. (new ed.) sig. (*4) Even that great Soule, which fathomes th' Universe,..Unspells the Heaven's broad volume.
4. (See quot. 1846.)
ΚΠ
1846 Printing Apparatus for Amateurs 34 In the process of distributing [the type] the word is unspelt, beginning with the first letter of the word.
Derivatives
Also attributive.
unˈspelling n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > sorcery, witchcraft, or magic > enchantment or casting spells > [noun] > freeing or deliverance from enchantment
disenchanting1620
disenchantment1620
disincantation1652
unwitching1655
unspelling1897
1897 A. Nutt Celtic Doctr. Re-birth xiii, in K. Meyer tr. Voy. Bran II. 16 Manawyddan obtains..the unspelling of the land.
1902 A. Nutt Legends Holy Grail 52 The unspelling theme.
1902 A. Nutt Legends Holy Grail 53 In Crestien..it is subordinated to the unspelling quest.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
v.1611