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View synonyms for spell

spell

1

[ spel ]

verb (used with object)

, spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
  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 followed by out ):

    She painfully spelled out the message.

  4. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often followed by out ).
  5. to signify; amount to:

    This delay spells disaster for us.

    Synonyms: promise, mean, portend, foretell



verb (used without object)

, spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
  1. to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.:

    He spells poorly.

  2. to express words by letters, especially correctly.

verb phrase

    1. to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable:

      Must I spell it out for you?

    2. to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed:

      The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out.

  1. to outspell others in a spelling match.

spell

2

[ spel ]

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.

spell

3

[ spel ]

noun

  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.

    Synonyms: stretch, bit, while

  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.

verb (used with object)

  1. to take the place of for a time; relieve:

    Let me spell you at the wheel.

  2. Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.

verb (used without object)

  1. Australian. to have or take a rest period.

spell

1

/ spɛl /

noun

  1. a verbal formula considered as having magical force
  2. any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination
  3. a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; trance

    to break the spell

  4. under a spell
    held in or as if in a spell
“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


verb

  1. rare.
    tr to place under a spell
“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

spell

2

/ spɛl /

noun

  1. an indeterminate, usually short, period of time

    a spell of cold weather

  2. a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another
  3. a period or interval of rest
“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

verb

  1. tr to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily
  2. spell a paddock
    to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow
“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

spell

3

/ spɛl /

verb

  1. to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
  2. tr (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctly

    d-o-g spells dog

  3. tr to indicate or signify

    such actions spell disaster for our cause

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈspellable, adjective
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Other Words From

  • spella·ble adjective
  • un·spella·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spell1

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”; spell 2

Origin of spell2

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”; spell 1, gospel

Origin of spell3

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spell1

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

Origin of spell2

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

Origin of spell3

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

In addition to the idiom beginning with spell , also see cold snap (spell) ; under someone's spell .
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Example Sentences

He said everything — community health data, facility preparedness, the staffing situation — spells a return to in-person instruction.

Thus, many educators reasonably teach a small set of high-frequency, irregularly spelled words as special cases.

Married for a spell to Ellen Barkin, he’s made a few appearances in the tabloids, too.

The rise in demand for flexible office space could also spell a future for repurposed storefronts.

From Digiday

I have no doubt Icahn knows all the numbers, but he appears to rely on instincts that tell him, I’ve seen this scenario before, and it always spells trouble.

From Fortune

“Then I learned he can't spell and is a manager at a CPK,” she said.

After my crying spell stopped, I gritted my teeth, tucked my crutch under my right arm, and turned to my husband.

In order to break the spell and bear children, they must collect four items from the mysterious woods.

A personal favorite is “C Is For Cookie” for guiding me through a 1994 playground debate over how to spell the word.

Unless Spotify can figure out how to better pay artists and develop exclusive deals, this could easily spell the end for them.

Finally he shook himself free from the dreamy spell of the place, and turned his face southward again.

"I just happened to be passin' and thought I'd drop in for a spell," he said, with a profound bow to Mary, who arose to greet him.

Her quiet eyes, held by his during the spell that had bound them speechless, did not flinch at the breaking of it.

Aristide prayed that some Thaïs might come along, cast her spell upon him, and induce him to wink.

After the first short spell of shelling our men fixed bayonets and lifted them high above the parapet.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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