spell

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): Did I spell your name right?

(of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.): The letters spelled a rather rude word.

to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed by out): She painfully spelled out the message.

to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often followed by out).

to signify; amount to: This delay spells disaster for us.

verb (used without object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly.

to express words by letters, especially correctly.

Verb Phrases

spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.

spell out,

to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable: Must I spell it out for you?
to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed: The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out.

VIDEO FOR SPELL

WATCH NOW: Why Do Some Words Look Wrong When Spelled Correctly?

Do you ever spell a word you’ve spelled a thousand times only to second guess yourself? Just blame wordnesia!

Origin of spell

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English spel(l)en “to mean, signify,” from Old French espeller, espelir, from Germanic; compare Old English spellian “to talk, converse, announce” (derivative of spell “magic charm”); akin to Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spillōn “to narrate”; see origin at spell²

SYNONYMS FOR spell

5 foretell, portend, mean, promise.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

spell·a·ble, adjectiveun·spell·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby spell

Speke, spelaean, speleology, speleotherapy, spelk, spell, spellbind, spellbinder, spellbound, spell-check, spell checker

Definition for spell (2 of 3)

spell²

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

noun

a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation: The wizard cast a spell.

a state or period of enchantment: She was under a spell.

any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination: the spell of fine music.

Origin of spell

First recorded before 900; Middle English spel “story, tale, narrative,” Old English; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spill “fable, story”; see spell¹, gospel

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

spellful, adjectivespell-like, adjective

Definition for spell (3 of 3)

spell³

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

noun

a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel.

a turn of work so taken.

a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing.

an indefinite interval or space of time: Come visit us for a spell.

a period of weather of a specified kind: a hot spell.

Australian. a rest period.

Archaic. a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another.

verb (used with object)

to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel.

Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.

verb (used without object)

Australian. to have or take a rest period.

Origin of spell

First recorded in 1585–95; (verb) alteration of earlier spel(l)e “to stand in place of, relieve, spare,” Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spelian “to stand in place of, represent”; spala, gespelia “a substitute”; the noun is derivative of the verb

SYNONYMS FOR spell

4 while, bit, stretch.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for spell

In order to break the spell and bear children, they must collect four items from the mysterious woods.
Anna Kendrick on Feminism, #GamerGate, and the Celebrity Hacking Attack|Marlow Stern|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A personal favorite is “C Is For Cookie” for guiding me through a 1994 playground debate over how to spell the word.
‘Sesame Street’ Is Middle-Aged and Awesome|Emily Shire|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It features a young girl at a spelling bee who is asked to spell “Hagan.”
In North Carolina, GOP Overreach May Be More Unpopular Than Obama|Dean Obeidallah|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suffice it to say that Radcliffe put an Avada Kedavra spell on the song, because he absolutely killed it!
Harry Potter Raps, The Catcalls Heard ‘Round the World and More Viral Videos|Alex Chancey|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As a dyslexic,” he said, “the spell checker has transformed my life.
We All Have a Rosebud in Our Pasts|Sam Roberts|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And yet he was conquered by a woman; the fairy Vivien enchanted the enchanter and kept him in a hawthorn bush under a spell.
The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2)|Anatole France
All this ferment and froth did not spell reasoned conviction.
Far to Seek|Maud Diver
Upon his arrest Jouret released the girls from the spell of years.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930|Victor Rousseau
I, who had gone through the programme before, yet suffered the spell of Auriol's suspense.
The Mountebank|William J. Locke
Was this the first letter of the awful alphabet Europe was to be called on to spell?
An Account of Our Arresting Experiences|Conway Evans

British Dictionary definitions for spell (1 of 3)

spell¹

/ (spɛl) /

verb spells, spelling, spelt or spelled

to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

(tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctlyd-o-g spells dog

(tr) to indicate or signifysuch actions spell disaster for our cause

Derived forms of spell

spellable, adjective

Word Origin for spell

C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen

British Dictionary definitions for spell (2 of 3)

spell²

/ (spɛl) /

noun

a verbal formula considered as having magical force

any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination

a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; tranceto break the spell

under a spell held in or as if in a spell

verb

(tr) rare to place under a spell

Word Origin for spell

Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel

British Dictionary definitions for spell (3 of 3)

spell³

/ (spɛl) /

noun

an indeterminate, usually short, period of timea spell of cold weather

a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another

Scot, Australian and NZ a period or interval of rest

verb

(tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily

spell a paddock NZ to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow

Word Origin for spell

Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with spell

spell

In addition to the idiom beginning with spell

spell out

also see:

cold snap (spell)
under someone's spell

单词	spell
释义	spell ¹ [ spel ] / spɛl / SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM verb (used with object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing. to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): Did I spell your name right? (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.): The letters spelled a rather rude word. to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed by out): She painfully spelled out the message. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often followed by out). to signify; amount to: This delay spells disaster for us. verb (used without object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing. to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly. to express words by letters, especially correctly. Verb Phrases spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match. spell out, to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable: Must I spell it out for you? to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed: The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out. VIDEO FOR SPELL WATCH NOW: Why Do Some Words Look Wrong When Spelled Correctly? Do you ever spell a word you’ve spelled a thousand times only to second guess yourself? Just blame wordnesia! MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM Origin of spell ¹ First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English spel(l)en “to mean, signify,” from Old French espeller, espelir, from Germanic; compare Old English spellian “to talk, converse, announce” (derivative of spell “magic charm”); akin to Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spillōn “to narrate”; see origin at spell² SYNONYMS FOR spell 5 foretell, portend, mean, promise. SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM OTHER WORDS FROM spell spell·a·ble, adjectiveun·spell·a·ble, adjective Words nearby spell Speke, spelaean, speleology, speleotherapy, spelk, spell, spellbind, spellbinder, spellbound, spell-check, spell checker Definition for spell (2 of 3) spell² [ spel ] / spɛl / noun a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation: The wizard cast a spell. a state or period of enchantment: She was under a spell. any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination: the spell of fine music. Origin of spell ² First recorded before 900; Middle English spel “story, tale, narrative,” Old English; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spill “fable, story”; see spell¹, gospel OTHER WORDS FROM spell spellful, adjectivespell-like, adjective Definition for spell (3 of 3) spell³ [ spel ] / spɛl / noun a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel. a turn of work so taken. a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing. an indefinite interval or space of time: Come visit us for a spell. a period of weather of a specified kind: a hot spell. Australian. a rest period. Archaic. a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another. verb (used with object) to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel. Australian. to declare or give a rest period to. verb (used without object) Australian. to have or take a rest period. Origin of spell ³ First recorded in 1585–95; (verb) alteration of earlier spel(l)e “to stand in place of, relieve, spare,” Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spelian “to stand in place of, represent”; spala, gespelia “a substitute”; the noun is derivative of the verb SYNONYMS FOR spell 4 while, bit, stretch. SEE SYNONYMS FOR spell ON THESAURUS.COM Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for spell In order to break the spell and bear children, they must collect four items from the mysterious woods. Anna Kendrick on Feminism, #GamerGate, and the Celebrity Hacking Attack\|Marlow Stern\|November 25, 2014\|DAILY BEAST A personal favorite is “C Is For Cookie” for guiding me through a 1994 playground debate over how to spell the word. ‘Sesame Street’ Is Middle-Aged and Awesome\|Emily Shire\|November 10, 2014\|DAILY BEAST It features a young girl at a spelling bee who is asked to spell “Hagan.” In North Carolina, GOP Overreach May Be More Unpopular Than Obama\|Dean Obeidallah\|November 3, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Suffice it to say that Radcliffe put an Avada Kedavra spell on the song, because he absolutely killed it! Harry Potter Raps, The Catcalls Heard ‘Round the World and More Viral Videos\|Alex Chancey\|November 2, 2014\|DAILY BEAST As a dyslexic,” he said, “the spell checker has transformed my life. We All Have a Rosebud in Our Pasts\|Sam Roberts\|October 15, 2014\|DAILY BEAST And yet he was conquered by a woman; the fairy Vivien enchanted the enchanter and kept him in a hawthorn bush under a spell. The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2)\|Anatole France All this ferment and froth did not spell reasoned conviction. Far to Seek\|Maud Diver Upon his arrest Jouret released the girls from the spell of years. Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930\|Victor Rousseau I, who had gone through the programme before, yet suffered the spell of Auriol's suspense. The Mountebank\|William J. Locke Was this the first letter of the awful alphabet Europe was to be called on to spell? An Account of Our Arresting Experiences\|Conway Evans British Dictionary definitions for spell (1 of 3) spell¹ / (spɛl) / verb spells, spelling, spelt or spelled to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word) (tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctlyd-o-g spells dog (tr) to indicate or signifysuch actions spell disaster for our cause See also spell out Derived forms of spell spellable, adjective Word Origin for spell C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen British Dictionary definitions for spell (2 of 3) spell² / (spɛl) / noun a verbal formula considered as having magical force any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; tranceto break the spell under a spell held in or as if in a spell verb (tr) rare to place under a spell Word Origin for spell Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel British Dictionary definitions for spell (3 of 3) spell³ / (spɛl) / noun an indeterminate, usually short, period of timea spell of cold weather a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another Scot, Australian and NZ a period or interval of rest verb (tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily spell a paddock NZ to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow Word Origin for spell Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with spell spell In addition to the idiom beginning with spell spell out also see: cold snap (spell) under someone's spell The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Content related to spell Are The Spells In Harry Potter Real Words?There are dozens of spells that are used by the characters in Harry Potter’s fictional world of wizardry. But are any of them real words? READ MORE Why Do Some Words Look Wrong When Spelled Correctly?Do you ever spell a word you’ve spelled a thousand times only to second guess yourself? Just blame wordnesia! READ MORE Words related to spell streak, bout, stint, illness, spasm, signify, add up to, suggest, intend, portend, indicate, augur, presage, breathe, intermission, term, relay, space, stretch, shift
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spell

verb (used with object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

verb (used without object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

Verb Phrases

VIDEO FOR SPELL

WATCH NOW: Why Do Some Words Look Wrong When Spelled Correctly?

Origin of spell

SYNONYMS FOR spell

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

Words nearby spell

Definition for spell (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of spell

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

Definition for spell (3 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of spell

SYNONYMS FOR spell

Example sentences from the Web for spell

British Dictionary definitions for spell (1 of 3)

verb spells, spelling, spelt or spelled

Derived forms of spell

Word Origin for spell

British Dictionary definitions for spell (2 of 3)

noun

verb

Word Origin for spell

British Dictionary definitions for spell (3 of 3)

noun

verb

Word Origin for spell

Idioms and Phrases with spell

Content related to spell

Words related to spell