Spell Meaning
/spɛl/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounWords or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
nounA magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
Sentence Examples
How do you spell "pretty"?
A cold spell gripped Europe.
We had a spell of warm weather in April.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student tried to ____ the difficult word correctly on the board.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Children learn how to ____ simple words correctly during their first few years of primary school.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English spell, spel, from Old English spell (“news, story”), from Proto-Germanic *spellą (“speech, account, tale”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- (“to tell”) or from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to speak, to sound”) with the s-mobile prefix. Cognate with dialectal German Spill, Icelandic spjall (“discussion, talk”), spjalla (“to discuss, to talk”), guðspjall (“gospel”) and Albanian fjalë (“word”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Skies are not so black / Mary took me back / Mary has broken your spell"
— 1962, Marty Robbins, “Devil Woman”:
"I believe your love has placed its spell on me"
— 2020, Deftones, The Spell of Mathematics:
"Vnchaine your spirits now with spelling Charmes,"
— 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 115, column 2:
"[…] although the Kings Jealousie was thus particular to her, his Affection was as general to others […] Above all, for a time he was much speld with Elianor Talbot […]"
— 1647, George Buck, The History and Life and Reigne of Richard the Third, London, Book 4, p. 116:
"But when, O Wells! thy roses came to me
My sense with their deliciousness was spell’d:"
— 1817, John Keats, “To a Friend who sent me some Roses”, in Poems, London: C. & J. Ollier, page 83:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student tried to ____ the difficult word correctly on the board.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Children learn how to ____ simple words correctly during their first few years of primary school.