Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Spell

Definition: Spell

Spell

Noun

1. A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation.

2. A time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work".

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".

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".

Verb

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!".

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".

4. Place under a spell.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "spell" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1050. (references)

 

Specialty Definition: Spell

DomainDefinition

Computing

Spell n. Syn. incantation. Source: Jargon File.

Literature

Spell (A), in workman's language, means a portion of time allotted to some particular work, and from which the men are relieved when the limited time expires.
To spell is to relieve another at his work.
Spell ho! An exclamation to signify that the allotted time has expired, and men are to be relieved by another set.
A pretty good spell. A long bout or pull, as a "spell at the capstan," etc. (The German spicl means a performance as well as a play, game, or sport.). Source: Brewer's Dictionary.

Mining

A rest period for crews at furnace, stock house, etc., or a period of workin drilling the taphole; a change or turn. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Specialty Definition: English orthography

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

English spelling, although largely phonemic, has more complicated rules than many other spelling systems for languages written in alphabetic scripts, and contains inconsistencies that necessitate rote learning of the pronunciations of many words. There are two major reasons for this.

The first is that the admirably consistent orthography of Old English was swept away by the Norman Conquest, and English itself was eclipsed by French for three centuries, eventually emerging with its spelling much influenced by French. English had also borrowed large numbers of words from French, which for reasons of prestige and familiarity kept their French spellings. Like most other languages with alphabetic scripts, English continues to preserve foreign spellings for loanwords, even when they employ completely exotic conventions, like the 'cz' in 'Czech'.

The second major reason is the group of linguistic changes during the period after the Conquest, including the Great Vowel Shift. For example, these changes changed 'igh' in 'night' from a pure vowel followed by a velar fricative to a diphthong; and changed 'stone' from two syllables to one. These changes for the most part did not detract from the rule-governed nature of the spelling system; but in some cases they introduced confusing inconsistencies, like the well-known example of the many pronunciations of 'ough' (rough, through, though, thorough, trough, plough, etc.). Most of these changes happened before the arrival of printing in England; but the printing press, which it might have been hoped would provide the impetus for a realignment of spelling with pronunciation, merely froze the current system and introduced further inconsistencies, partly because of the use of typesetters trained abroad, particularly in the Low Countries.

A third major reason is the English language itself. English contains 24 separate consonant phonemes and, depending on dialect, anywhere from fourteen to twenty vowels and diphthongs. English uses no diacritical marks, and makes do with the twenty-six inadequate letters of the Latin alphabet. A one to one correspondence between character and sound is not possible using that unadorned alphabet in English, which requires the use of a large number of digraphs such as th and sh.

There were also minor problems like the introduction of false etymological spellings (the 'b' in 'debt' is an attempt to link it to the Latin 'debitum', the 's' in 'island' is a misplaced attempt to link it to Latin insula instead of the correct Norse igland, and the 'p' in 'ptarmigan' has no etymological justification whatsoever). Other orthographies have not been immune to these maladies. Swedish, for example, once suffered from a fashion for 'decorative spelling'.

The English spelling system can be taught to children easily using the regularities that it does possess. Although it is undoubtedly easier to learn the spelling system of Swedish, Serbian or Swahili more quickly - all these languages have more regular and simpler systems than that of English - a literate native speaker of English generally has no difficulty with a word he or she has not seen before. However, studies have shown that dyslexia occurs more often among speakers of languages such as English whose orthography differs heavily from the phonology than speakers of languages such as Finnish or Italian where the letter-sound correspondence is more regular (see: PISA report).

Loanwords are often changed in pronunciation as a result of pressure from the spelling. A good example of this is 'ski', adopted from Norwegian (in the mid-18th century; but not common before 1900) and pronounced 'shee' till the increasing popularity of the sport after the middle of the 20th century helped the 'sk' pronunciation replace it.

Proposals for spelling reform have failed for several reasons. The spelling system is really not as bad as its critics have claimed, and causes few problems; a radical reform would be offensive to the eye and cut us off from the past; and minor reforms are hardly worth the trouble. American English spelling diverged slightly from that of British English, partly as a conscious attempt at rationalisation, partly to distance the newly-independent United States from Great Britain, but the changes are so small as to make hardly any difference, and merely make work for proof readers and sellers of spell-checking software.

The spelling of English continues to evolve. Loanwords have introduced a new quasi-Italian system of pronouncing vowels - for loanwords from any language, not just Italian - and so we have 'hindu' and no longer 'Hindoo'; and under this influence the name 'Maria' no longer rhymes with 'fire' but with 'here' in RP and other non-rhotic dialects. (This influence probably started with the introduction of many actual Italian words into English during the renaissance, in fields including music - andante, viola, forte, etc.) Advertisers introduce spellings like 'smokey' (for 'smokey bacon flavoured crisps') which they fancy is somehow smokier than 'smoky'; and 'rucsac' rather than 'rucksack', to conjure up a technical atmosphere. Since the 1970s and possibly earlier, affectionate versions of women's names that sound the same as men's names have been spelt differently: Nikki and Nicky, Toni and Tony, Jo and Joe.

The spelling of the English language annually gains publicity during May because of the popularity of a Spelling bee organized at the national level in the USA as a competition for students that are under 16 years of age.

See also English language, English plural, Misspelling, Strange words in English language, Longest words in English, Shavian alphabet

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "English orthography."

Top     



Spell

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

A spell is the basic mechanism of religious magical practices. It consists of a spoken or written formula which is used in conjunction with a particular set of magical ingredients. If a spell is properly executed and fails to work, then the spell is a fraud. However, in most instances, the failure of a spell to bring about the desired effect can be attributed to the failure of the person executing the spell to follow the magic formula to the letter.

Generally speaking, there are two types of magic: Contagious magic and sympathetic magic. Contagious magic involves the use of physical ingredients which were once in contact with the object or objects one hopes to influence with a spell, and sympathetic magic involves the use of physical objects which resemble the object or objects one hopes to influence.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Spell."

Top     

Abbreviations & Acronyms: Spell

The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted.
EntrySourceExpressionField

SPELL

EnglishInteractive system for Spoken European Language trainingComputing, European Union

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Top     

Synonyms: Spell

Synonyms: charm (n), enchantment (n), go (n), magic spell (n), piece (n), tour (n), trance (n), turn (n), while (n), import (v), write (v). (additional references)
Antonym: unspell (v). (additional references)

Top     

Synonyms within Context: Spell

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Amusement

Athletic sports, gymnastics; archery, rifle shooting; tournament, pugilism; (contention); sports; horse racing, the turf; aquatics; skating, sliding; cricket, tennis, lawn tennis; hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball; rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, la grace; pall-mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo; tent pegging; tilting at the ring, quintain; greasy pole; quoits, horseshoes, discus; rounders, lacrosse; tobogganing, water polo; knurr and spell.

Desire

Woo, court, solicit; fish for, spell for, whistle for, put up for; ogle.

Exertion

Noun: exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt; stroke of work,Noun: exertion, effort, strain, tug, pull, stress, throw, stretch, struggle, spell, spurt, spirt; stroke of work, stitch of work.

Interpretation

Find out; a the meaning; of; read; spell out, make out; decipher, unravel, disentangle; find the key of, enucleate, resolve, solve; read between the lines.

Learning

Read, spell, peruse; con over, pore over, thumb over; wade through; dip into; run the eye over, run the eye through; turn over the leaves.

Letter

Verb: spell.

Motive

Inducement, consideration; attraction; loadstone; magnet, magnetism, magnetic force; allectation, allective; temptation, enticement, agacerie, allurement, witchery; bewitchment, bewitchery; charm; spell; fascination, blandishment, cajolery; seduction, seducement; honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple.

Necessity

Destiny, destination; fatality, fate, kismet, doom, foredoom, election, predestination; preordination, foreordination; lot fortune; fatalism; inevitableness; Adjective: spell.

Destine, doom, foredoom, devote; predestine, preordain; cast a spell; necessitate; compel.

Refreshment

Break, spell.

Sorcery

Verb: practice sorcery;Noun: cast a nativity, conjure, exorcise, charm, enchant; bewitch, bedevil; hoodoo, voodoo; entrance, mesmerize, magnetize; fascinate; (influence); taboo; wave a wand; rub the ring, rub the lamp; cast a spell; call up spirits, call up spirits from the vasty deep; raise spirits from the dead.

Spell

Noun: spell, charm, incantation, exorcism, weird, cabala, exsufflation, cantrap, runes, abracadabra, open sesame, countercharm, Ephesian letters, bell book and candle, Mumbo Jumbo, evil eye, fee-faw-fum.

Time

Noun: time, duration; period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season; the whole time, the whole period; space-time; course; snap.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Top     

Crosswords: Spell

English words defined with "spell": Ague spellbewitch, bewitched, bewitching, bewitchmentcaptivating, charm, curseDisencharmenchant, enchanting, enchantment, ensorcelled, enthralling, entrancingfascinated, fascinatingglamour, gohex, hypnotic, hypnotised, hypnotizedIn this connectionjinxmagic spell, mesmeric, mesmerised, mesmerized, mesmerizing, misspell, mojoOrthographize, Ouija, Ouija boardpiece, planchetteRespellsizzling, Sleeping Beauty, spell out, spellbinding, spellbound, spelldown, Spelled, spelling bee, Spelling book, spelling contesttour, transfixed, turnUnbewitch, unspellwhile, witch. (references)
Specialty definitions using "spell": Abida, ad-hockerybanana problemCemetery, Chery and Fair-StarDeputyEnchantmentFreedomGynethHEAT STORMimplementational long-range planKeySpellLybiusMousquetaireNEBUCHADNEZZAR, Nurr and SpellOpen, Sesame, OratorPalmistry, partial conversionSaccharissa, Standard Generalised Markup Languagetactical plan. (references)
Etymologies containing "spell": Spelk. (references)

Top     

Modern Usage: Spell

DomainUsage

Screenplays

That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell. (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; writing credit: Frances Walsh)

You don't spell it, you eat it (Sixteen Candles; writing credit: John Hughes)

And as punishment she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there (Beauty and the Beast; writing credit: Roger Allers; Kelly Asbury)

He's got the whole White House press corps asking each other how to spell erudite (The American President; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin)

Be prepared for hysterics and even a fainting spell. Better have smelling salts handy and a nip of brandy (Witness for the Prosecution; writing credit: Agatha Christie; Larry Marcus)

Lyrics

They get'choo caught in their spell (Girls of Summer; performing artist: Aerosmith)

Lying under this spell you cast on me (Crush; performing artist: Dave Matthews Band)

I'm under a spell again (Shake Your Love; performing artist: Debbie Gibson)

Could break that Satan's spell ("American Pie"; performing artist: Don McLean)

And the stars spell out your name (Candle In The Wind 1997; performing artist: Elton John)

Clever

I don't give a damn for man that can spell a word only one way. (references; author: Mark Twain)

A synonym is a word you use in place of one you can't spell. (references; author: unknown)

If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? One thousand. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

You Can't Spell Sex Without... X (1970)

A Voodoo Spell (1967)

Hot Spell (1958)

Under Your Spell (1936)

The Hot Spell (1936)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Commercial Usage: Spell

DomainTitle

Books

  • The spell of music; an attempt to analyse the enjoyment of music (reference)

  • Cat Spelled Backwards Doesn't Spell God (reference)

  • Compleat Spell Caster (reference)

  • The Hyacinth Spell (Thorndike Large Print Candlelight Series) [LARGE PRINT] (reference)

  • Leaning on the Wind: Under the Spell of the Great Chinook (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Theater & Movies

  

Music

  

High Tech

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Image Slideshow: Spell

Illustrations:
Spell

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Spell

More pictures...

Top     

Photo Album: Spell

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

Crewmembers spell out "Boxer 75,000 Landings" on the flight deck to commemorate reaching that milestone in her career. The landing was made on 19 November 1955 by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Charles R. Smith, and his crewman, Roland W. Parker, flying an AD "Skyraider" of Composite Squadron 35. The original photograph was released by Commander Naval Forces Far East on 28 November 1955. Credit: NAVY.

Crewmen on the flight deck spell out "Connecticut", 16 July 1951. Credit: NAVY.

Michael knew he must do something at once to break away from the spell of that beautiful witch. Credit: Library of Congress.

It beats anything for a sinking spell. Credit: Library of Congress.

I don't think I ever knew such a spell of weather. Credit: Library of Congress.

I don't care how much Jim says, he gives me a breathing spell!. Credit: Library of Congress.

What it takes to spell it. Credit: Library of Congress.

Put the pennant beside the flag--Both spell victory United States Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation / / Carey Print Lith. N.Y. Credit: Library of Congress.

Painful incident of the cold spell. Moral: be careful about starting a fire with kerosene. Credit: Library of Congress.

Put the pennant beside the flag--Both spell victory United States Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation / / Carey Print Lith. N.Y. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Top     

Digital Photo Gallery: Spell
 

"Watching the Harbour" by vares
Commentary: "A man turned in to stone by a bed spell."
"Poke salet" by Loretta Humble
Commentary: "Don't know how you really spell it: poke salad, I think. It grows wild, and we gather the first young leaves in the spring, and cook them like other greens, except we par boil them first.(cook a while, then drain the water off and replace.) Later it is wa"

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

Top     

Familiar Quotations: Spell

AuthorQuotation

Andrew Jackson

It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Men get opinions as boys learn to spell by reiteration chiefly.

George Sand

The beauty that addresses itself to the eyes is only the spell of the moment; the eye of the body is not always that of the soul.

Johann Kaspar Lavater

Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.

Whittier

The tents of autumn -- a mighty flower garden, blossoming under the spell of the enchanter, frost.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Use in Literature: Spell

TitleAuthorQuote

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

The spell survives, and just as powerfully as if the natal spot were an earthly paradise

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

I will teach her to spell.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Joyce, James

He had tried to spell out the headline for himself though he knew already what it was for it was the last of the book

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Non-Fiction Usage: Spell

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

And don't be embarrassed to ask the doctor to repeat or explain something or spell unfamiliar words. (references)

This approach is an alternative to the jejunostomy tube and is usually a temporary method to get you through a difficult spell of gastroparesis. (references)

There are data to suggest that infants presenting with an apneic spell during sleep who were perceived to require resuscitation may have a mortality as high as 10 percent despite the use of home monitors. (references)

Business

The new law will spell out roles and responsibilities of both lessor and lessee. (references)

These initiatives spell out the commitment to promote independence and out-patient rehabilitation, and, as a result, many patients who would have previously been institutionalized have remained in the community. (references)

Dell has done away with the need of the channel network and, with its success, other companies are also looking at selling over the Net. The advantages of the Net and the increasing pressure to replicate the Dell model could spell doom for the channel players. (references)

Civil Liberties

Singapore

Implementing regulations, which spell out more clearly what is permitted and prohibited, were promulgated in October. (references)

Economic History

Ghana

However, joint venture arrangements with Ghanaian firms should carefully spell out areas of responsibility. (references)

Chad

The OHADA acts spell out rights for approved creditors in various categories (i.e., the treasury, wage earners, etc.). (references)

Political Economy

MALAYSIA

These guidelines also spell out the conditions under which companies may receive one, two and three year operating licenses. (references)

Political Rights

Croatia

Outstanding concerns included the hurried last-minute drafting of the election law, provisions on minority representation that do not clearly spell out procedures for achieving minority balance in local bodies (and that still await data from the April 2001 census), the lack of a permanent state electoral commission, the lack of transparency in parties' campaign expenditures, and the lack of regulations for campaign financing. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

DEPUTY, n. A male relative of an office-holder, or of his bondsman. The deputy is commonly a beautiful young man, with a red necktie and an intricate system of cobwebs extending from his nose to his desk. When accidentally struck by the janitor's broom, he gives off a cloud of dust. "Chief Deputy," the Master cried, "To-day the books are to be tried By experts and accountants who Have been commissioned to go through Our office here, to see if we Have stolen injudiciously. Please have the proper entries made, The proper balances displayed, Conforming to the whole amount Of cash on hand -- which they will count. I've long admired your punctual way -- Here at the break and close of day, Confronting in your chair the crowd Of business men, whose voices loud And gestures violent you quell By some mysterious, calm spell -- Some magic lurking in your look That brings the noisiest to book And spreads a holy and profound Tranquillity o'er all around. So orderly all's done that they Who came to draw remain to pay. But now the time demands, at last, That you employ your genius vast In energies more active. Rise And shake the lightnings from your eyes; Inspire your underlings, and fling Your spirit into everything!" The Master's hand here dealt a whack Upon the Deputy's bent back, When straightway to the floor there fell A shrunken globe, a rattling shell A blackened, withered, eyeless head! The man had been a twelvemonth dead. Jamrach Holobom

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Top     

Usage Frequency: Spell

"Spell" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 57.53% of the time. "Spell" is used about 2,148 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Noun (singular)57.53%1,2366,318
Lexical Verb (infinitive)35.02%7529,078
Lexical Verb (base form)6.84%14725,998
Noun (proper)0.6%1397,576
                    Total100.00%2,148N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Name Usage Frequency: Spell

The following table summarizes the usage of "spell" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified.
NameUsage/GenderUsage per 100
million Persons
Rank in USA
SpellLast name2,0006,200
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Expressions: Spell

Expressions using "spell": Ague spell be under a spell break the spell break the spell on breathing spell bright spell cast a spell cast a spell on cast a spell over cast a spell upon casting a spell cold spell dizzy spell fainting spell give smb. a spell hot spell knurr and spell magic spell night spell put a spell on sinking spell spell backward spell of fine weather spell out spell smth. out. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "spell": spell-binder, spell-binding, spell-book, spell-bound, spell-check, spell-checked, spell-checker, spell-checking, spell-out, spell-retention, spell-ridden, spell-wall, spell-walls, spell-weaving, spell-work.

Ending with "spell": By-spell, counter-spell, finger-spell, mordor-spell, night-spell.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Spell

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

spell check

1,333

free love spell

40

spell

683

online spell checker

40

spell checker

498

outlook express spell check

39

love spell

338

free spell checker

38

candle spell

253

phone number spell

33

witch craft spell

249

speak spell

33

casting spell spells

204

does number phone spell

33

wiccan spell

199

spell checkers

32

spell kit

146

learn how to spell

31

wicca spell

138

good luck spell

31

casting spell

122

curse spell

31

magic love spell

114

harry list potter spell

31

spell book

109

money spell

29

magic spell

90

medical spell checker

29

sing spell read and write

81

phone spell

28

free spell check

72

spell bound

28

white magic spell

62

revenge spell

28

online spell check

62

3 editor spell warcraft

27

cast a spell

48

magick spell

27

sex spell

44

protection spell

26

ie spell

26
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Modern Translation: Spell

Language Translations for "spell"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Afrikaans

  

begogelsing (delusion, illusion), begoëlsing (delusion, illusion). (various references)

   

Albanian

  

shqiptoj fjalë-fjalë, shkruaj gërmë-gërmë, magji (bewitchment, black magic, cantrip, conjuration, enchantment, glamor, glamour, hex, incantation, magic, medicine, necromancy, pishogue, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry), formulë magjike (Abracadabra), fjalë magjike (incantation, juju, spelt). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏فتنة (appeal, attraction, disorder, glamor, glamour, seduction, temptation, trial), ‏فترة (epoch, era, interval, period, phase, qualifying period, season, stage, term, time, while), ‏نومة خفيفة (snooze), ‏قرأ ببطء يتهجى, ‏وضح (accentuate, clarify, clear up, define, elucidate, explain, illuminate, illustrate, light, lighten, puzzle out, ravel out, represent, state), ‏تهجى, ‏تناوب العمل, ‏تعلم التهجئة, ‏سحر (attractiveness, bedevil, bewitch, bewitchment, catch, charm, conjure, diablerie, enamor, enamour, enchantment, fascinate, fascination, glamor, glamour, incantation, infatuation, loveliness, magic, magnetize, matinee, mesmerize, necromancy, overlook, pleasantness, prestige, quaintness, ravishment, relish, smite, sorcery, spellbind, temptation, weirdness, witch, witchcraft, witchery, wiz, wizardry, zest), ‏إستراح فترة, ‏رقية (charm, exorcism, incantation), ‏دوخة (dizziness, vertigo). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

сменям (alternate, change, change off, change round, exchange, interchange, relay, shift, swap, switch over to, throw, transfer), работя нещо на смени, чар (allure, allurement, attraction, bewitchment, charm, enticement, fascination, glamor, glamour, loveliness, lure, magic, magnetism, wizardry), омая (charm), означавам (amount, bespeak, betoken, connotate, denote, imply, import, indicate, intend, involve, mean, purport, represent, signify, typify), образувам дума, заклинание (adjuration, charm, conjuration, exorcism, incantation, invocation, obtestation, paternoster), предвещавам (adumbrate, augur, betoken, bode, forerun, foreshadow, portend, presage, prognosticate, shadow, threaten), правя нещо на смени, правя почивка, период (age, circle, cycle, date, epoch, period, phase, repetend, season, term, time), пиша дума буква по буква, изричам дума буква по буква, довеждам до (bring about, lead). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

(burst, disposition of troops, short period, spate, wave), (a time, bout, jerk, meal, stop), (join together, piece together, stake), 咒语. (various references)

   

Czech

  

hláskovat. (various references)

   

Danish

  

stave (stake, stanchion, stave, stay). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

spellen (spelling). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

sorĉinfluo, literumi, ensorĉo (delusion). (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

پی بردن به (Infer, Trace), هجی کردن , حمله ناخوشی , حمله (Access, Assault, Attack, Charge, Inroad, Offense, Offensive, Onrush, Onset, Onslaught, Rush, Sally, Venue), سحر (Charm, Incantation, Magic, Wizardry), طلسم کردن (Glamorize), طلسم (Abracadabra, Amulet, Charm, Glamor, Glamour, Incantation, Juju, Ligature, Talisman), خواندن (Intone, Invite, Read, Reading), جذابیت (Grace), جادو (Glamor, Glamour, Incantation, Magic, Talisman, Weird, Wizard), افسون 2 (Glamour, Incantation, Juju), املاء کردن , دل کسی رابردن , درست نوشتن . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

tavata (catch, come across, come upon, encounter, happen upon, meet, run into, see, to meet), taika (charm, magic, witchcraft), puuska (attack, bout, gust), lumous (charm, enchantment), loitsu (charm, incantation). (various references)

   

French

  

sortilège, se relayer, incantation, épelent, épeler (spelling), épelez, épellation (spelling), épelons, apprendre à épeler, charme, écrire, expliquer bien, vertige, moment, orthographier, période, petite sieste, reposer un peu, tour, ensorceler (spellbind). (various references)

   

Frisian

  

staverje. (various references)

   

German

  

Zauber (charm, delusion, enchantment, incantation, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry), richtig schreiben (spelled, spelt), buchstabieren (alphabetize, spell out, to spell), bann (anathema, ban, charm, excommunication, jinx). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

συλλαβίζω (syllabize). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

למלא מקום (fill in, relieve, replace, sub, substitute), לומר (put in, say, state, tell), לאית (spell out), לאבגד, לכשף (bewitch, charm, enchant), להיות פרושו, תורנות (orderly turn, service by rotation, turn of duty), קסם (allure, charm, divination, enchantment, fascination, glamor, glamour, magic, witchcraft), פרק זמן (period, space), כשוף (bewitched, enchanted, enchantment, incantation, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery), הקסמה (appeal, attraction, charm, fascination). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

varázslat (black art, charm, enchantment, glamor, glamour, hex, magic, medicine, sorcery, witchcraft), rövid időszak, bűvige, forduló (lap, leg, round, trip, turn, turning, twist), idő (period, time, weather), időszak (cycle, dwell, season, term, time, tract, tract of time), időtartam (duration, period, span, term, time, tract), műszak (shift), bűbáj (charm, glamor, glamour, hex, witchcraft), rövid idő (while), szakasz (area, break, chapter, compartment, par, paragraph, passage, period, phase, platoon, plt, section, sector, sqn, squadron, stadium), szakmány, turnus (shift, turn), váltás (change, relay, relief, shift, turn, turnout), varázs (allurement, appeal, attraction, blandishments, charisma, enchantment, enthralment, fascination, lure, seduction), varázsige (Abracadabra, incantation), munkaszakasz. (various references)

   

Icelandic

  

stafa. (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

musim (season), mengeja, jampi (incantation, magic formula), eja, ajian (charm, magical formula), aji (charm, magical formula). (various references)

   

Irish

  

scaitheamh (while). (various references)

   

Italian

  

compitare (spell out). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

陀羅尼 (dharani, litany, Sanskrit multi-syllabic chant), 続き (continuation, second series, sequel, succession), スペックル干渉計 (cum, semen, sparing, special purpose, speckle interferometer, spelling, spelunker, spencer jacket, sperm, spoke, spokesman, spokesperson, spokeswoman, sport, sports car, sports center, sports club, sports drink, sports event, sports fair, sports programmer, sports shoes, sports test, sports trainer, sportscaster, sportsman, sportsmanship, sportswear, sportswoman, sportswriter, superiority complex), 呪縛 (curse), 呪文 (charm, incantation). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

つづき (continuation, second series, sequel, succession), スペル , じゅばく (curse), じゅもん (charm, incantation), だらに (dharani, litany, Sanskrit multi-syllabic chant). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

주문. (various references)

   

Manx

  

tammylt (space, span, time, way, way distance, while), shayll (bout of work, innings, piece of work, rotating, share, stint, trick, turn), pishag (charm, incantation), oalys (cognizance, instinct, science), lettraghey (spelling), guess (soothsayer, taboo), grash (bout, bout of work, spurt, turn, turn of work), garrey (bout of work, gallop, impetus, lap, rubber, stint, trick, turn). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

stave. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

ellspay.(various references)

   

Portuguese

  

soletrar. (various references)

   

Romanian

  

silabisi (syllabify, syllabize), scrie ortografic, scrie literã cu literã, scrie corect, scrie (be spelt, compose, create, flourish, inscribe, produce, write), schimbare a gãrzii, schimb (barter, change, compensation, exchange, I change, pair, relay, relief, return, shift, substitute, swap, swop, truck), repaus (easy, quiet, repose, rest, sleep, truce), descifra greu, echipã (gang, group, relay, set, side, squad, team), farmec (allurement, amenity, appeal, attraction, attractiveness, charm, delight, enchantment, endearment, enticement, fascination, glamor, glamour, grace, loveliness, lure, relish, salt, seduction, sex appeal, spicery, witchery), fascinaţie (fascination, glamor, glamour), fermeca (allure, bedevil, bewitch, captivate, carry, cast a spell upon, charm, conjure, enamor, enamour, enchant, enrapture, enravish, enthral, entrance, fascinate, fetch, lure, smite, spellbind, take), interpreta (act, construe, explain, expound, interpret, paraphrase, play, read, render, represent, take, translate), interval de timp (period, stretch), ortografia, pauzã (break, interlude, intermission, interruption, interval, lull, pause, recess, respite, rest, rule, stand, stop, truce), însemna (badge, be, betoken, brand, chalk out, connote, denote, dint, excoriate, imply, import, item, jot down, mark off, mean, note, record, scotch, signify, stand, tick), rãstimp (duration, interregnum, interval, space, time, while), vrajã (allurement, charm, enchantment, glamor, glamour, incantation, relish, witchery), tipãri corect, vrãji (allure, bedevil, bewitch, cast a glamour over, cast a spell upon, charm, enchant, enrapture, entrance, fascinate, glamor, glamour, lure, spellbind), pronunţa (articulate, deliver, form, give, give forth, pass, pronounce, say, sound, speak, utter, vocalize). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

читать по складам (spell out), время (amount of time, close season, closed season, cockcrow, cock-crow, morrow, period, time, time-of-day, while), намекать (allude, hint, insinuate, tip off), называть по буквам, период (continuance, date, day, period, phase, season, stage, tide, time), писать по буквам. (various references)

   

Scottish

  

geas. (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

spelovati, vreme (epoch, season, tense, time, weather), vradžbina (charm, obi, pishogue, sorcery, theurgy), urok, prolazan napad bolesti, pisati (pen, write), kratko vreme (awhile, wee), bajalica (sorcerer), čarolija (black magic, enchantment, magic). (various references)

   

Sicilian

  

alfarbetari (to spell). (various references)

   

Spanish

  

deletrear (decipher, spell out). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

stava, bokstavera. (various references)

   

Turkish

  

sihir (charm, conjuration, enchantment, fascination, glamor, glamour, incantation, magic, sorcery, sortilege, witchery), sıra (alignment, arrangement, array, bench, desk, file, form, linage, line, occasion, order, ordinal, place, progression, queue, range, rank, row, sequence, series, settle, slot, succession, tier, train, turn), hecelemek (articulate, spell out, syllabicate, syllabify, syllabize, syllable), çekıcilik, afsun (charm, incantation), alımlılık (attraction, charm, comeliness), anlamına gelmek (add up, add up to, amount, be, connote, imply, infer, mean, purport, read, signify, stand for), büyü (charm, enchantment, fascination, glamor, glamour, hex, hoodoo, incantation, magic, maya, medicine, romance, sorcery, sortilege, the black art, voodoo, witchcraft, witchery), büyüleme (allure, allurement, captivation, casting a spell, enchantment, enthrallment, enthralment), büyülemek (allure, bedazzle, beguile, bewitch, captivate, cast a spell on, catch up, charm, conjure, daze, dazzle, enamor, enamour, enchant, enthral, enthrall, entrance, fascinate, glamor, glamorize, glamour, hypnotize, inthral, spellbind, voodoo, witch), büyülenme (being captivated, entrancement), dönem (circle, date, day, epoch, period, semester, session, term), çalışma sırası, etkilemek (affect, cast a spell on, catch up, concern, dictate, enamor, enamour, enthral, enthrall, glamor, glamour, grip, impinge, impress, imprint, influence, inthral, lead, militate, operate, prepossess, reach, smite, spellbind, sway, thrill, touch, turn, turn smb.'s head), yerine çalışmak (stand in, stand in for), imlâsını yazmak, kısa mesafe (piece), kısa süre (piece, short notice, short time, snatch, span, streak), kriz (acme, attack, bout, conjuncture, crisis, fit, ictus, invasion, paroxysm), nöbet (attack, bout, guard duty, ictus, invasion, paroxysm, police, post, sentry, sentry go, tour, turn, turn of duty, turn of work, watch), nöbetini devretmek, tılsım (amulet, charm, talisman), vardiya (job rotation, relay, shift, turn of work, watch), diye okunmak. (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

konkretleюdirmek (r) (make specific, spell out), jadylamak (cast a spell). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

строк (date, day, hour, term), розбирати (analyse, analyze, decipher, decompose, demount, disassemble, disjoint, dismantle, dissect, overhaul), чари (bewitchment, cantrip, charm, fascination, glamor, glamour), змінюватися (alter, change, relay, veer), зміняти, зміна (alteration, alternation, casting, change, mutation, relay, revolution, shift, take over, turnover, variance), зачаровувати (allure, beguile, bewitch, dazzle, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, glamor, glamour, philter, philtre), заклинання (adjuration, charm, conjuration, exorcism, incantation, mantra, paternoster), період (age, cycle, date, day, hour, period), передихнути, писати по літерах. (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

sức quyến rũ (allure, alluringness, lurchingly, magnetism, witchery), lời thần chú bùa mê sự làm say mê, đợt (course). (various references)

   

Welsh

  

swyn (charm, fascination, magic), sillafu, sbel (bout), rhaib (greed, rapacity), hoe (rest), daliad (holding, tenet), cyfaredd (charm). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Top     

Ancestral Language Translations: Spell

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Sumerian3100 BCE-2500 BCE

nam-ub, u. (various references)

Latin500 BCE-Modern

cantatio, cantionum, devotione, incantatio, incantationes, incantationibus. (various references)

Sanskrit300 BCE-Modern

mantra-s. (various references)

Scottish1300-Modern

gramarye. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Bible Trace: Spell

LanguageDateSourceActs Chapter 2, Verse 41
Greek (transliterated)250 BCSeptuagintOi men oun asmenwV apodexamenoi ton logon autou ebaptisqhsan kai proseteqhsan th hmera ekeinh yucai wsei trisciliai
Latin405VulgateQui ergo receperunt sermonem eius baptizati sunt et adpositae sunt in illa die animae circiter tria milia
Old English990West SaxonÞas þe his spell onfengon wæron gefulwod and ymb ðrieþusend sawla wurdon him on þæm ilcan dæge geeacod.
Middle English1395WyclifThanne thei that resseyueden his word weren baptisid, and in that dai soulis weren encreesid, aboute thre thousinde;
Renaissance English1526TyndaleThen they that gladly receaved his preachynge were baptised: and the same daye ther were added vnto them aboute thre thousande soules.
Jacobean English1611King JamesThen they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Victorian English1833WebsterThen they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.
Basic English1964OgdenThen those who gave hearing to his words had baptism: and about three thousand souls were joined to them that day.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Matched Bible Translations: Spell

<
LanguageActs Chapter 2, Verse 41
AlbanianDhe ata që e pranuan fjalën e tij me gëzim, u pagëzuan; atë ditë u shtuan rreth tre mijë veta.
CebuanoUg unya gibautismohan kadtong mga misagop sa iyang pulong, ug niadtong adlawa may mga tulo ka libo ka mga tawo nga nahidugang kanila.
Chinese於 是 領 受 他 話 的 人 、 就 受 了 洗 . 那 一 天 、 門 徒 約 添 了 三 千 人 .
CroatianI oni prigrliše rijeè njegovu i krstiše se te im se u onaj dan pridruži oko tri tisuæe duša.
DanishDe, som nu toge imod hans Ord, bleve døbte; og der føjedes samme Dag omtrent tre Tusinde Sjæle til.