spell
1. spell \'spel\ n [ME, talk, tale, fr. OE; akin to OHG spel talk, tale, Gk
apeile-] boast 1a: a spoken word or form of words believed to have magic
power : INCA NTATION 1b: a state of enchantment 2: a strong compelling
influence or attraction
2. spell vt : to put under a spell : BEWITCH
3. spell \'speld, 'spelt\ vb or spelled; or spell.ing [ME spellen, fr. OF
espeller, of Gmc origin; akin to OE spell] talk 1: to read slowly and with
difficulty 2a: to find out by study : DISCOVER 2b: COMPREHEND, UNDERSTAND
3a: to name the letters of in order; also : to write or print the letters
of in order 3b: to make up (a word) : FORM 4: MEAN, SIGNIFY : to form
words with letters
4. spell \'speld\ vb or spelled; or spell.ing [ME spelen, fr. OE spelian;
akin to OE spala substitute] 1: to take the place of for a time : RELIEVE
2: to allow an interval of rest to : REST 1: to work in turns 2: to rest
from work or activity for a time
5. spell n archaic 1a: a shift of workers 1b: one's turn at work 2a: a
period spent in a job or occupation chiefly Austral 2b: a period of rest
from work, activity, or use 3a: an indeterminate period of time 3b: a
stretch of a specified type of weather 4: a time colored by some state of
body or mind : FIT