Sekirov Dictionary

spell

/spɛl/

verb 14
noun 11
forms 4
phrases 5

verb14

•
to give the letters of a word one after another, by saying or writing them
- I find it difficult to spell because I'm dyslexic.
•
To notate or indicate a pitch, interval, or chord using a particular enharmonic spelling.
- The note D♭ is spelled differently from C♯, even though they sound equivalent.
- The way you spell a chord reflects its harmonic function.
•
To indicate that (some event) will occur; typically followed by a single-word noun.
- This spells trouble.
•
(figurative) To clarify; to explain in detail.
- Please spell it out for me.
•
Of letters: to compose (a word).
- The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.
To work in place of (someone).
•
To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.
- They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.
(informal) To rest from work for a time.
•
To constitute; to measure.
- the Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect — 1655
•
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
- […] although the Kings Jealousie was thus particular to her, his Affection was as general to others […] Above all, for a time he was much speld with Elianor Talbot […] — 1647
•
(no longer used) To speak, to declaim.
- O who can tell / The hidden power of herbes, and might of Magicke spell? — 1590
•
(no longer used) To tell; to relate; to teach.
- As thro’ the caverns dim I wind, Might I that legend find, By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes, — 1770
•
(no longer used) To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort.
- "He'll do," said Bildad, eyeing me, and then went on spelling away at his book in a mumbling tone quite audible. — 1851
(slang, no longer used) To hanker or yearn (for something).

noun11

•
Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
- He cast a spell to cure warts.
A period of rest; time off.
•
(informal) An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance.
- Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her trouble for whole spells. [...] When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her. — 1897
(informal) A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc.
•
A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
- Skies are not so black / Mary took me back / Mary has broken your spell — 1962
A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour.
An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler.
•
(informal) A definite period (of work or other activity).
- I had a job in the great North Woods / Workin' as a cook for a spell / But I never did like it all that much / And one day the ax just fell — 1975
•
(Northern-England) A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.
- To swadle a bowe much about wyth bandes, verye seldome dothe anye good, excepte it be to kepe downe a spel in the backe. — 1545
The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.
(no longer used) Speech, discourse.

forms

spelled · spelt · spelling · spells

Phrases with spell

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