[spell] vb spelled ; spell.ing [ME, fr. MF espeller, of Gmc origin; akin to OE spell talk] vt (14c) 1: to read slowly and with difficulty--often used with out
2: to find out by study: come to understand--often used with out "it requires some pains to ~ out those decorations --F. J. Mather" 3 a (1): to name the letters of in order; also: to write or print the letters of in order (2): to write or print the letters of in a particular way "you can ~ it either way" "I ~ed it wrong" b: to make up (a word) "what word do these letters ~" c: write 1b "catnip is ~ed as one word"
4: to add up to: mean "crop failure was likely to ~ stark famine --Stringfellow Barr" ~ vi: to form words with letters "teach children to ~"; also: to spell words in a certain way "~s the way he speaks"
[2]spell n [ME, talk, tale, fr. OE; akin to OHG spel talk, tale] (1579) 1 a: a spoken word or form of words held to have magic power: incantation b: a state of enchantment
2: a strong compelling influence or attraction [3]spell vt spelled ; spell.ing (ca. 1623): to put under a spell [4]spell n [prob. alter. of ME spale substitute, fr. OE spala] (1593) 1 a archaic: a shift of workers b: one's turn at work
2. a: a period spent in a job or occupation b chiefly Austral: a period of rest from work, activity, or use 3 a: an indeterminate period of time "waited a ~ before advancing"; also: a continuous period of time "did a ~ in prison" b: a stretch of a specified type of weather
4: a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder "a ~ of coughing" "fainting ~s" [5]spell vb spelled ; spell.ing [ME spelen, fr. OE spelian; akin to OE spala substitute] vt (1595) 1: to take the place of for a time: relieve "he and the other assistant ... ~ed each other --Mary McCarthy"
2: rest ~ vi 1: to work in turns
2. chiefly Austral: to rest from work or activity for a time