What does “spell” mean?
The word “spell” means words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce. In plain terms, a magic charm, the act of writing out a word's letters correctly, or a short stretch of time/activity.
How do you pronounce “spell”?
“Spell” is pronounced spehl (/spɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “spell” in a sentence?
Here is “spell” used in a sentence: “The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.”
What part of speech is “spell”?
Depending on how it is used, “spell” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spell” come from?
The word “spell” comes from Old English. From Old English spell ("story, news, tale"), from Proto-Germanic *spellą. The "magic words" sense and the "write out letters" sense both branched from this old idea of telling or reciting something.
Is “spell” a common word?
“Spell” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “spell” have?
“Spell” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce.
What is the difference between the two meanings of 'spell'?
As a noun, spell can mean words believed to have magical power or the magical effect they produce, as in casting a spell. As a verb, spell means to write or say the letters of a word in the correct order. The two senses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing a form.
What is the difference between a spell and a curse?
A spell is words believed to have magical power or the effect they produce, and can be intended for good or ill. A curse is specifically a spell or wish meant to bring harm or misfortune, so a curse is a kind of hostile spell.
What are common phrases using the word 'spell'?
Common phrases include 'cast a spell', 'break a spell', 'under a spell', and 'spell out' (to explain something in clear detail). 'Under someone's spell' is used figuratively to mean strongly attracted to or influenced by them.
