1spell1 (spɛl
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: spells, spelling, spelt, 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 correctly ⇒
d-o-g spells dog
- (tr) to indicate or signify ⇒
such actions spell disaster for our cause
See also
spell outAlternative Forms
ˈspellable adjectiveWord Origin
C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen2spell2 (spɛl)
Definitions
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; trance ⇒
to break the spell
- See under a spell
verb
- (tr) rare to place under a spell
Word Origin
Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel3spell3 (spɛl)
Definitions
noun
- an indeterminate, usually short, period of time ⇒
a spell of cold weather
- a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another
- Scottish Australian New Zealand a period or interval of rest
verb
- (tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily
- See spell a paddock
Word Origin
Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure originTranslations
- British English:
spell
A spell of a particular type of weather or a particular activity is a short period of time during which this type of weather or activity occurs.There has been a long spell of dry weather.spɛl NOUN There has been a long spell of dry weather.
- Spanish:
hechizo
nm
- French:
laps
nm
- German: Zauberformel nf
- Chinese: 一段时间 n
- Arabic: فَتْرَة n
- Portuguese: feitiço nm
- Russian: заклинание nnt
- Croatian: čarolija f
- Czech: zaklínadlo nnt
- Danish: fortryllelse nutr
- Dutch: toverformule n
- Finnish: loitsu n
- Greek: ξόρκι nnt
- Italian: incantesimo nm
- Japanese: 一時期 n
- Korean: 주문 n
- Norwegian: fortryllelse nm
- Polish: zaklęcie nnt
- Brazilian Portuguese: período nm
- European Spanish:
hechizo
nm
- Swedish: förtrollning nutr
- Thai: มนตร์คาถา n
- Turkish: büyü n
- Vietnamese: phép thuật n
- British English:
spell
A spell is a situation in which events are controlled by a magical power.They say a witch cast a spell on her.spɛl NOUN They say a witch cast a spell on her.
- Spanish:
temporada
nf
- French:
sort
nm
- German:
Zeitabschnitt
nm
- Chinese: 符咒 n
- Arabic: سِحْر n
- Portuguese: período nm
- Russian: промежуток времени nm
- Croatian: period nm
- Czech: období nnt
- Danish: periode nutr
- Dutch: periode nf
- Finnish: ajanjakso n
- Greek: χρονική περίοδος nf
- Italian: periodo nm
- Japanese: 呪文 n
- Korean: 계속되는 기간 n
- Norwegian: periode nm
- Polish: czary npl
- Brazilian Portuguese: feitiço nm
- European Spanish:
temporada
nf
- Swedish: stund nutr
- Thai: ช่วงเวลา n
- Turkish: dönem n
- Vietnamese: một đợt n
- British English:
spell
When you spell a word, you write or speak each letter in the word in the correct order.He gave his name and then helpfully spelt it.spɛl VERB He gave his name and then helpfully spelt it.
- Spanish:
deletrear
v
- French:
épeler
vt
- German:
buchstabieren
v
- Chinese: 拼写 v
- Arabic: يَتَهَجَّأُ v
- Portuguese: soletrar v
- Russian: писать или произносить (слово) по буквам v
- Croatian: pisati v
- Czech: hláskovat v
- Danish: stave v
- Dutch: spellen v
- Finnish: kirjoittaa v
- Greek: συλλαβίζω v
- Italian: compitare v
- Japanese: つづる v
- Korean: 철자하다 v
- Norwegian: stave v
- Polish: przeliterować v literować
- Brazilian Portuguese: soletrar v
- European Spanish:
deletrear
v
- Swedish: stava v
- Thai: อ่านสะกดคำ v
- Turkish: telaffuz etmek v
- Vietnamese: đánh vần v
Usage examples
Then she tried to reach into the Charter, to draw forth a spell to blast the necromancer with silver darts or red-gold fire.
, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)A dry spell can encourage plant to produce more berries which means more colour.
Country Life (2004)Portuguese centre back Jorge Costa plays his last match before returning to FC Porto following a five-month loan spell at The Valley.
Irish Times (2002)Lincolnshire and its countryside had slowly cast its spell.
, FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)