Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [spel]
- /spɛl/
- /spel/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [spel]
- /spɛl/
Definitions of spell word
- noun spell a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel. 2
- noun spell a turn of work so taken. 2
- noun spell a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing. 2
- verb with object spell to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel. 1
- verb with object spell Australian. to declare or give a rest period to. 1
- verb without object spell Australian. to have or take a rest period. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of spell
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English spellen < Old French espeller < Germanic; compare Old English spellian to talk, announce (derivative of spell spell2), Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjalla, Gothic spillōn
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Spell
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
spell popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
spell usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for spell
noun spell
- abracadabra — Abracadabra is a word that someone says when they are performing a magic trick in order to make the magic happen.
- aeon — An aeon is an extremely long period of time.
- attack — To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence.
- bewitchment — the state of being bewitched
- bit — A bit of something is a small part or section of it.
verb spell
- add up — If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.
- add up to — If amounts add up to a particular total, they result in that total when they are put together.
- bandied — to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange: to bandy blows; to bandy words.
- bandying — to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange: to bandy blows; to bandy words.
- bewitch — If someone or something bewitches you, you are so attracted to them that you cannot think about anything else.
Antonyms for spell
noun spell
- misspell — Spell (a word) incorrectly.
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