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spellmore about spell

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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