SPELL
What does "SPELL" mean?
To name or write the letters of a word in their correct order.
Meanings
- To name or write the letters that form a word in sequence. Can you spell your surname for me?
- To signify or amount to; to mean as a consequence. Another drought would spell disaster for the harvest.
- A form of words held to have magical power; an enchantment. The witch muttered a spell over the bubbling pot.
- A short or indefinite period of time. After a spell of rest, she felt ready to go on.
- To relieve someone by taking over their work for a while. Let me spell you at the wheel for an hour. informal
Word origin
The 'recite letters' sense comes from Old French 'espeller' (of Germanic origin); the 'magic words' sense comes from the Old English noun 'spell' (a saying or story); the 'period of time' sense is a separate Old English word 'spelian' meaning to substitute.
Remember it
SPELL has the double L of 'magic well'; remember a witch dropping letters one by one into the well to make a word.
A little poem
The child who learns to spell learns more than letters:
the same old word once bound the world in fetters.
couplet
Wordplay
- The wizard insisted he could spell perfectly, which was true in both senses until someone handed him a dictionary.
What it teaches
Words were thought powerful long before they were thought correct; respect what you put in order out loud.
Quick facts
What does SPELL mean?
To name or write the letters of a word in their correct order.
Is SPELL a valid word?
Yes — SPELL is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is SPELL?
SPELL has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does SPELL come from?
The 'recite letters' sense comes from Old French 'espeller' (of Germanic origin); the 'magic words' sense comes from the Old English noun 'spell' (a saying or story); the 'period of time' sense is a separate Old English word 'spelian' meaning to substitute.
What can SPELL teach us?
Words were thought powerful long before they were thought correct; respect what you put in order out loud.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.