SPELL

I. verb (~ed; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English, to mean, signify, read by ~ing out letters, from Anglo-French espeleir, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English ~ian to relate, ~ talk Date: 14th century transitive verb to read slowly and with difficulty, to find out by study ; come to understand, 3. a. to name the letters of in order, to write or print the letters of in a particular way , to make up (a word) , write 1b , to add up to ; mean , intransitive verb to form words with letters , II. noun Etymology: Middle English, talk, tale, from Old English; akin to Old High German spel talk, tale Date: 1579 1. a spoken word or form of words held to have magic power, a state of enchantment, a strong compelling influence or attraction, III. transitive verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: circa 1623 to put under a ~, IV. noun Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English spale substitute, from Old English spala Date: 1593 1. a shift of workers, one's turn at work, 2. a period spent in a job or occupation, a period of rest from work, activity, or use, 3. an indeterminate period of time , a stretch of a specified type of weather, a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder , V. verb (~ed; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala substitute Date: 1595 transitive verb to take the place of for a time ; relieve , rest , intransitive verb to work in turns, to rest from work or activity for a time