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spell |
9 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spelled}or {Spelt}; p. pr & vb n. {Spelling}.] [OE. spellen, spellien, tell relate, AS spellian fr spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spill?n.e {Spell} a tale. In sense 4 and those following, OE spellen, perhaps originally a different word and from or influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf D. spellen to spell. Cf {Spell} splinter.] 1. To tell to relate; to teach. [Obs.] Might I that legend find By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes. --T. Warton. 2. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. ``Spelled with words of power.'' --Dryden. He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot. --Sir G. Buck. 3. To constitute; to measure. [Obs.] The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect. --Fuller. 4. To tell or name in their proper order letters of as a word to write or print in order the letters of esp. the proper letters; to form as words by correct orthography. The word ``satire'' ought to be spelled with i, and not with y. --Dryden. 5. To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; -- usually with out as to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible. To spell out a God in the works of creation. --South. To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident. --Milton. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, n. 1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead. A spell at the wheel is called a trick. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 2. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks. Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather. --Washington. 3. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells. [R.] Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day but are succeeded by spells. --Garew. 4. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work as a logging spell. [Local, U.S.] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill. Cf {Gospel}, {Spell} to tell the letters of.] 1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] ``Hearken to my spell.'' --Chaucer. 2. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence any charm. Start not her actions shall be holy as You hear my spell is lawful. --Shak. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, n. [OE. speld, AS speld a spill to light a candle with akin to D. speld a pin, OD spelle, G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet. Cf {Spill}splinter, roll of paper, {Spell} to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.] --Holland. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spelled}; p. pr & vb n. {Spelling}.] [AS. spelian to supply another's place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of at work to relieve; as to spell the helmsman. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spell \Spell\, v. i. 1. To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing. When what small knowledge was in them did dwell, And he a god, who could but read or spell. --Dryden. 2. To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything by study. [Obs.] Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew. --Milton. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: spell n 1: a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation [syn: {enchantment}, {trance}] 2: a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work" [syn: {go}, {tour}, {turn}] 3: a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather" [syn: {while}, {piece}] 4: a verbal formula believed to have magical force; "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"; "inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese" [syn: {magic spell}, {charm}] v 1: recite the letters of or give the spelling of "How do you spell this word?" 2: indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!" [syn: {import}] 3: write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word); "He spelled the word wrong in this letter" [syn: {write}] 4: place under a spell [ant: {unspell}] From Jargon File (4.2.3, 23 NOV 2000) [jargon]: spell n. Syn. {incantation}. From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: spell {incantation}
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