spell

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spell

spell word, formula, or incantation believed to have magical powers. The spell can be used for evil or good ends; if evil, it is a technique of sorcery. Many authorities believe that the spell was the precursor of prayer. In Teutonic lore, the spell was a form of exercising occult power and was sometimes used to summon the spirits of departed heroes to give prophetic utterances. Once cast, the spell was supposed to remain in force until broken by a counterspell or exorcism.

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spelling

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

spell·ing / ˈspeling/ • n. the process or activity of writing or naming the letters of a word. ∎ the way a word is spelled: the spelling of his name was influenced by French. ∎ a person's ability to spell words: her spelling was deplorable. ∎ a school subject.

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spell

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

spell3 relieve (another) at work XVI. Later form of †spele take the place of, OE. spelian, rel. to spala substitute, of unkn. orig.
Hence spell sb. †relief gang XVI; turn of work taken in relief of another XVII; continuous course of time XVIII.

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T. F. HOAD. "spell." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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