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spell

v. · n.
US //ˈspɛɫ// UK //spˈɛl// spell
Irregular verb past spelled / spelt past participle spelled / spelt
  1. 1 to write letters (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to say or write the letters of a word in the correct order.

    to name, write, or signal in order the letters of a word or part of a word.

    Example

    Could you please spell your last name for the receptionist?

    Example

    The teacher asked the students to spell the most difficult vocabulary words from the chapter before the quiz began.
    • orthographize
    • misspell
    Pitfall
    How do you spell of your name?
    How do you spell your name?

    The verb 'spell' is transitive and takes the word being spelled as a direct object without a preposition.

  2. 2 to mean or result in (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to mean that something, usually something bad, is going to happen.

    to signify or lead to a particular result, typically an undesirable one.

    Example

    The dark clouds in the distance could spell trouble for our hiking trip.

    Example

    Economists warned that the sudden rise in oil prices could spell disaster for the recovering manufacturing sector.
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  1. 3 to explain clearly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to explain something in a very clear and detailed way.

    to make something explicit or to explain in detail; often used with the particle 'out'.

    Example

    You don't need to spell out every detail; I understand the main idea.

    Example

    The contract spells out the exact responsibilities of each partner to avoid any future legal disputes.

    Usage

    Often used as the phrasal verb 'spell out'.
    • obfuscate
  2. 4 magic (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a piece of magic or a set of secret words that have magical power.

    a spoken word, formula, or form of words held to have magic power; an incantation.

    Example

    In the story, the witch cast a spell on the prince to turn him into a frog.

    Example

    The ancient legends describe a powerful spell that could only be broken by a selfless act of courage.
  3. 5 a short period (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a short period of time, often spent doing a specific activity or experiencing a type of weather.

    a definite or indefinite period of time, often characterized by a particular activity, condition, or weather pattern.

    Example

    We had a brief spell of warm weather in the middle of October.

    Example

    After a long spell of unemployment, he finally secured a position at a local engineering firm.
  4. 6 a turn of work (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a turn or shift of work.

    a period of work or duty; a shift.

    Example

    The sailors took a four-hour spell at the wheel during the storm.

    Example

    Each worker was required to complete a grueling spell in the mines before being promoted to a supervisory role.
  5. 7 musical notation (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    to write a musical note in a specific way using its name.

    to notate a pitch or interval using a specific enharmonic name.

    Example

    The composer chose to spell the note as an E-flat rather than a D-sharp.

    Example

    In this specific harmonic context, it is more theoretically accurate to spell the chord with a diminished seventh.

    Usage

    Used when choosing between enharmonic equivalents like G-sharp and A-flat.

Etymology 1

From Middle English spell, spel, from Old English spell (“news, story”), from Proto-Germanic spellą (“speech, account, tale”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)pel- (“to tell”) or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to speak, to sound”) with the s-mobile prefix. Cognate with dialectal German Spill, Icelandic spjall (“discussion, talk”), spjalla (“to discuss, to talk”), guðspjall (“gospel”) and Albanian fjalë (“word”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English spellen, from Anglo-Norman espeler, espeleir, Old French espeller, espeler (compare Modern French épeler), from Frankish spelōn, merged with native Old English spellian (“to tell, speak”), both eventually from Proto-Germanic spellōną (“to speak”). Related with etymology 1. The sense “indicate a future event” probably in part a backformation from forespell (literally “to tell in advance”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian (“to represent, take or stand in the place of another, act as a representative of another”), akin to Middle English spale (“a rest or break”), Old English spala (“representative, substitute”).

Etymology 4

From Middle English spel (“a thin piece of wood”), from Old Norse [Term?].

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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