See Also: spell 2, noun(dictionary)
spell(1)(dictionary)
spell(3)(dictionary)
spell(4)(dictionary)
spell(5)(dictionary)
spell(6)(dictionary)
spell(7)(dictionary)
spell(8)(dictionary)
spell(9)(dictionary)
spell(2)(dictionary)

spell 2, noun (oh)



2 n [C]
[Sense: 1,3-4; Origin: Old English'talk, story']
[Sense: 2; Date: 1600-1700; Origin: spell 'to take the place of another' (11-21 centuries), from Old English spelian]
a piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing it
::a magic spell
put a spell on sb/cast a spell over sb
(=do a piece of magic to change someone)
::The kiss of the prince broke the spell (=stopped the magic from working) .
be under a spell
::The whole town seemed to be under a spell.
a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period
brief/short spell
::After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.
spell of
::a spell of bad luck
cold/wet/dry spell
::Water the young plants carefully during dry spells.
::a day of sunny spells and scattered showers
::He began to suffer from dizzy spells .
a power that attracts, interests, and influences you very strongly
fall/come/be under a spell
::I fell under the spell of her charm.
::an ancient city that still casts its spell over travellers
break the spell
to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special
::He lay still, not wanting to break the spell.