GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 6 definitions

1.       
   Spell , n. [OE. speld, AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle, G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet.  Cf. Spillsplinter, roll of paper, Spell to tell the letters of.] A spelk, or splinter. [Obs.]
   Holland.
   
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2.       
   Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [AS. spelian to supply another's place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
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3.       
   Spell, n.
   The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead.
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   A spell at the wheel is called a trick.
   Ham. Nav. Encyc.
   
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   The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.
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   Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather.
   Washington.
   
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   One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells. [R.]
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   Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells.
   Garew.
   
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   A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell. [Local, U.S.]
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4.       
   Spell , n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS. & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill.  Cf. Gospel, Spell to tell the letters of.]
   A story; a tale. [Obs.] “Hearken to my spell.”  
   Chaucer.
   
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   A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.
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    Start not; her actions shall be holy as
   You hear my spell is lawful.
   Shak.
   
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5.       
   Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelled  or Spelt ; p. pr. & vb. n. Spelling.] [OE. spellen, spellien, tell, relate, AS. spellian, fr. spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spilln.e Spell a tale. In sense 4 and those following, OE. spellen, perhaps originally a different word, and from or influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf. D. spellen to spell.  Cf. Spell splinter.]
   To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.]
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   Might I that legend find,
   By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes.
   T. Warton.
   
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   To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. “Spelled with words of power.”  
   Dryden.
   
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   He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot.
   Sir G. Buck.
   
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   To constitute; to measure. [Obs.]
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   The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect.
   Fuller.
   
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   To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography.
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   The word “satire” ought to be spelled with i, and not with y.
   Dryden.
   
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   To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; -- usually with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible.
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   To spell out a God in the works of creation.
   South.
   
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   To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident.
   Milton.
   
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6.       
   Spell, v. i.
   To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing.
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   When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell,
   And he a god, who could but read or spell.
   Dryden.
   
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   To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study. [Obs.]
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   Where I may sit and rightly spell
   Of every star that heaven doth shew,
   And every herb that sips the dew.
   Milton.
   
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