| 释义 |
▪ I. spell, n.1|spɛl|
Also 1–7 spel, 2–5 spelle.
[OE. spel, spell, = OS. spel, spell-, MDu. -spel, OHG. (and MHG.) spel, spell- (G. dial. spill, spiell gossip, G. -spiel), ON. spjall, Goth. spill recital, tale, etc.]
†1.
a. Without article: Discourse, narration, speech; occas. idle talk, fable. Obs.
Beowulf 873 Secg eft ongan..on sped wrecan spel ᵹerade. c888K. ælfred Boeth. xiii, Þa ongon he eft secgean spel & þus cwæð. c1000Sax. Leechd. III. 232 Ðæt nis to spelle ac elles to rædenne þam þe hit licað. c1175Lamb. Hom. 153 To lusten hoker, & spel, & leow [read leoþ], & oðer þing þet boð to-ȝeines godes heste. c1205Lay. 12093 Nes hit neowhær itald on songe no on spelle. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 329 Ȝweþer þis beo soth,..oþur us þinchez ase in metingue, oþur in manere of spelle? a1310in Wright Lyric P. xxv. 68 Thine peynes rykene hit were long, Ne may hem tellen spel ne song. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxiii. (Seven Sleepers) 362 Wes nane þat euire hard tel of ony of þame in red na spel. c1425Audelay XI Pains of Hell 321 Þen seide vr lord to hem in spelle.
†b. to set spell on end, to begin to speak. Obs.
a1300Siriz 62, I shal setten spel on ende, And tellen þe al. a1300Cursor M. 1295 Seth þen sette him spell [Trin. tale] on-end And tald warfor þat he was send. c1440Alph. Tales 84 He sett spell on ende & tolde hym all þe cace.
†2.
a. A discourse or sermon; a narrative or tale; also (OE.), a subject of discourse. Obs.
Beowulf 2898 Lyt swiᵹode niwra spella..ac he soðlice sæᵹde ofer ealle. c888K. ælfred Boeth. xxvi. §3 Ða se Wisdom ða þis spel asæd hæfde. Ibid. xxxi. §1 We ᵹeheordon ᵹeo ᵹeara on ealdum spellum þæt [etc.]. c1000ælfric Gram. Pref. (Z.) 2 Syððan ic ða twa bec awende on hundeahtatiᵹum spellum. c1200Ormin 8026 Þurrh þatt teȝȝ cwemmdenn Jesu Crist Wiþþ spelless & wiþþ dedess. a1250Owl & Night. 1794 Ne can ic eu na more telle; her nys na more of þisse spelle. a1300Cursor M. 19655 (Edinb.), Mikil he lernid..Of spellis þat he siþin spac. c1320Sir Tristr. 2768 Þe geaunt herd þat spelle, For þi him was ful wa. a1400–50Alexander 3840 Ȝit for na spell at he spirid spek wald þai neuire. a1450Myrc 170 Take gode hede on thys spel. a1500Tale of Harper 4 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 44 A man may dryfe forth the day..With harpyng and pipyng and other mery spellis.
1612Dekker If it be not Good Wks. 1873 III. 282 There with holy spels mens soules they cherish. a1617Bayne On Eph. (1658) 115 The Gospel..may well bee called a good spell or word. a1653Gouge Comm. Heb. xiii. 9 Gospel, that is a good spell, a good speech.
†b. With possessive pronouns, etc. Obs.
a1000Daniel 479 Ece drihten..se ðe him dom forᵹeaf..þam þe his spel berað. c1175Lamb. Hom. 27 Bi hulche monna seið drihten in his spelle. c1200Ormin 185 To turrnenn..Þe suness þurrh hiss hallȝhe spell Till þeȝȝre faderr herrte. a1300Cursor M. 5332 Þe king badd all to listen þan, And þus iacob his spell be-gan. c1386Chaucer Sir Thopas 182 Now hold your mouth..And herkneth to my spelle. a1450Myrc 1443 But he take hyre in hys spelle, Þen he may þe name mynge.
1579E. K. Gloss. to Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Mar. 54 And herehence I thinke is named the gospell, as it were Gods spell or worde. 1642H. More Song of Soul ii. iii. iv. 31 So many myriads tumble down to hell, Although partakers of Gods holy spell.
3. a. A set of words, a formula or verse, supposed to possess occult or magical powers; a charm or incantation; a means of accomplishing enchantment or exorcism. (Cf. the earlier night-spell.)
1579E. K. Gloss. to Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Mar. 54 Spell is a kinde of verse or charme, that in elder tymes they vsed often to say ouer euery thing, that they would haue preserued, as the Nightspel for theeues, and the woodspell. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 185 She workes by Charmes, by Spels, by th'Figure, & such dawbry as this is. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 28 Where the spirits of the deceassed, by certaine spels..were accustomed to be raised. 1651Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxvii. 236 If therefore Enchantment be not, as many think it, a working of strange effects by spells, and words; but Imposture [etc.]. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. vi. 153 The diabolical spells and charms of the pagan magicians. 1761Gray Odin 59 Prophetess, my spell obey. 1810Scott Lady of L. iii. vi, Whatever tells Of magic, cabala, and spells. 1848A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art. (1850) 138 Hermogenes..bound Philetus by his diabolical spells, so that he could not move hand or foot. 1894J. Macintosh Ayrshire Nts. Entert. iii. 32 The Norwegians believed it to have been raised by the spells of the Scottish witches.
b. transf. and fig. An occult or mysterious power or influence; a fascinating or enthralling charm.
1592Nashe Four Lett. Confut. 35 His only care was to haue a spel in his purse to coniure vp a good cuppe of wine with at all times. 1599B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. vi, Your good face is the witch and your apparell the spells that bring all the pleasures of the world into their circle. 1618Fletcher Loyal Subj. ii. ii, Thinking what strange spells these Rings have, And how they work with some. 1668Cowley Ess. Verses & Pr., Garden v, These are the Spels that to kind Sleep invite. 1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wm. I. vii. 302 Let it be remembered however, that the triumph of their rivals is commonly..short. The spell on which it is founded is soon broke. 1784Cowper Task vi. 98 Books are not seldom talismans and spells, By which the magic art of shrewder wits Holds an unthinking multitude enthrall'd. a1817Jane Austen Lady Susan xxxiv. (1879) 279 The spell is removed; I see you as you are. 1856N. Brit. Rev. XXVI. 218 The ordinary devices by which the novelist keeps us under his spell. 1865Kingsley Herew. xii, The spell was on him,..that of woman's tact.
c. A device, trick. rare—1
1728Ramsay Last Sp. Miser ix, To hane in candle I had a spell Baith cheap and bright.
4. attrib. and Comb.
a. With pa. pples., as spell-banned, spell-caught, spell-enslaved, spell-raised, spell-riveted, spell-soaked, etc.
1610Shakes. Temp. v. i. 61 There stand For you are Spell-stopt. 1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, ccxxii, Soe you may Vnderstand Spel-Sprung Castles,..if you haue the Key. 1691Dryden K. Arthur iii. ii, I cannot stir; I am spell-caught by Philidel. 1805H. K. White Let. to C. Lofft 10 Sept., By dark wood, or hamlet far retired, Spell-struck, with thee I loiter'd. 1817Campbell Reullura in Theodric, etc. 146 He..stood at the statue's foot, Spell-riveted to the spot. 1828Blackw. Mag. XXIV. 481 The gay attire of spell-raised loveliness. 1867J. Ingelow Story of Doom vii. 24 Japhet strove Vainly to take away his spell-set eyes. 1896Dublin Rev. Apr. 339 The legions..dissolved, like a spell-banned host. 1938Dylan Thomas Let. 14 Oct. (1966) 210 A still room in a spellsoaked house. 1955J. R. R. Tolkien Return of King vi. iv. 227 The creatures of Sauron, orc or troll or beast spell-enslaved, ran hither and thither.
b. With agent-nouns and vbl. ns., as spell-monger, spell-mutterer, spell-speaker; spell-casting, spell-weaving.
1625Hart Anat. Ur. ii. xi. 123, I say nothing of our Spel-mongers, curing by characters, figure-casting, with a world of other forbidden trash. 1633― Diet of Diseased Introd. 22 Many..have often recourse to Wizards, Spelmongers [etc.]. 1821Scott Pirate xxvi, We shall soon see how the old spell-mutterer will receive us. 1845Ford Handbk. Spain i. 48 A person who has visited these spell-casting sites. 1883Stallybrass tr. Grimm's Teut. Myth. III. 1109 Many books..couple together sieve-turners and spell-speakers. 1894Westm. Gaz. 6 Sept. 2/1 The capture and the spell-weaving proceed as usual.
c. With ns., as spell-craft, spell-glance, spell-word, etc.
1817Moore Lalla Rookh, Fire Worshippers (ed. 2) 206 His only spell-word, Liberty! Ibid. 249 Like those Peri isles of light, That hang by spell-work in the air. 1817Scott Harold ii. iii, To its dread aim her spell-glance flew. 1844Ayrshire Wreath 176 Then comes the spell-craft of the mind To knit the soul [etc.].
d. With adjs., as spell-free, spell-like, spell-proof.
1799Sheridan Pizarro iv. iii, The spell-like arts, by which this hypocrite first undermin'd..a guileless heart! 1801Leyden Elfin King Poems (1875) 168 Except on his faulchion arm Spell-proof he bear..The holy Trefoil's charm. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. ii. vi. i, A France spell-free, a Revolution saved.
▪ II. spell, n.2 Now dial.|spɛl|
Also 6–9 spel, 7 spelle.
[Perh. a later form of speld n., but cf. G. spellen to split, cleave.]
1. A splinter, chip, fragment.
1545R. Ascham Toxoph. ii. (Arb.) 121 To swadle a bowe much about wyth bandes, verye seldome dothe anye good, excepte it be to kepe downe a spel in the backe. 1591Harington Orl. Fur. xix. lxi, The speares in spels and sundry peeces flew As if they had beene little sticks or cane. 1610Markham Masterp. ii. cli. 450 This will heale any bone or spell, or any other stubbe. 1612Ench. Med. 100 Remoue the sharpe spels and splinters of bones. 1674Ray N. Co. Words 44 A Spell or speal, a Splinter. 1811Farey Derbyshire I. 250 Large Slapits, Spels or fragments fly off, sometimes with loud explosions. 1829–in northern glossaries.
2. A bar, rail, or rung.
1559Dunmow Churchw. MS. 43 Item, to John Hutt for spells for the bells, iid ob. 1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 15 To a barre belongeth two heads,..into which the 4 spelles are to bee putte:..the spelles are usually 6, 7, or sometimes 8 foote in length. 1796W. H. Marshall Yorksh. (ed. 2) II. 346 Spel (vulg. speyl); a bar. 1847–in dial. glossaries (Linc., Yks., Cumb.). 1864Gilbert & Churchill Dolomite Mount. 230 Upon a face of rock were two long beams of wood, with, instead of spells, notches cut in the timbers at irregular intervals.
3. The trap used in the game of spell and knur (also knor, null, etc.). Cf. knur 3.
1781J. Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) Gloss. 96 Spel-and-knor, the game of trap-stick. a1809Holcroft Mem. (1816) I. 61 Spell and null, bandy, prison-bars, and other field games. 1816Sporting Mag. XLVIII. 178 The games most common at Newmarket, were fives, spell and null, marbles, [and] chuck-farthing. 1828Carr Craven Gloss. 1862C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds 338 Underneath, at the four corners, are ‘prods’ wherewith the ‘spell’ is fixed into the earth. 1868N. & Q. 4th Ser. I. 325.
▪ III. spell, n.3|spɛl|
Also 7 spel.
[Related to spell v.3, and perh. directly representing OE. ᵹespelia substitute (cf. spala spale n.1).]
1. A set of persons taking a turn of work in order to relieve others; a relay, relief-gang, or shift. Now rare.
1593P. Nichols Drake Revived (1628) 27 Rowing in the eddy..by spels, without ceasing, each company their halfe houre glasse. 1602Carew Cornwall 10 b, In most places, their toyle is so extreame, as they cannot endure it aboue foure houres in a day, but are succeeded by spels. 1627Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. ii. 9 In pumping they vse to take spels, that is, fresh men to releeue them. 1628–9Digby Voy. Medit. (Camden) 87 Yet I sent them an other fresh spell of men. 1851G. Blyth Remin. Mission. Life II. 108 The fifteen or twenty persons who constituted the spell refused to go on.
2. a. A turn of work taken by a person or set of persons in relief of another.
a1625Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301) s.v., As when they pump a hundred strokes,..they call it a spell. 1626Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seaman 30 To row a spell, hold-water, trim the boate. 1644H. Manwayring Seaman's Dict. 79 At a Chaine-Pump, the Spels goe by Glasses. 1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. ⁋15 The First now takes his spell at Pulling: for the First and Second take their spell of Pulling and Beating an agreed number of Tokens. 1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v., Such are the spells, to the hand-lead in sounding; to the pump;..and to steer the ship; which last..is generally called the trick. 1838Holloway Prov. Dict., Spell, a turn, as one workman says to another:—‘now you take a spell’. 1849Cupples Green Hand xi. (1856) 112, I stays aboard the brig, works my spell in her, an' takes my trick at the hellum. 1886Stevenson Kidnapped xvi, The men gave way..with a good will, the passengers taking spells to help them.
b. to give a spell, to relieve another by taking a turn of work.
1750T. R. Blanckley Nav. Expos. 156 To give a Spell, is all one as to say, Work in such a one's Room. 1825J. Neal Bro. Jonathan II. xviii. 138 One or two..were continually offering to give him a ‘spell’—or a ‘lift’—or a ‘turn’ [at counting his money]. 1829B. Hall Travels in N.A. I. 188 A poor old negro..begged to be taken in, and offered to give me a spell when I became tired.
c. Without article, in phr. spell and spell (about), spell for spell; to keep spell or take spell.
1797S. James Narr. Voy. 202 They re-bailed out our boat..spell and spell about. 1799Hull Advertiser 27 July 4/2 His faithful companions..worked incessantly (spell and spell) for nine days. 1828Life Planter Jamaica 36 Plato takes spell after him. Ibid., Langbey was keeping spell, or in other words, had charge of the negroes employed in preparing the sugar. 1837Marryat Dog Fiend liv, We plied the pumps, 'twas spell and spell. 1855[Robinson] Whitby Gloss. s.v., Spell for spell is fair play.
3. a. A continuous course or period of some work, occupation, or employment; a turn or bout at something. Also without const.
1706E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 34 He..believes there is no more Sin in taking a Spell with a Whore, than in pumping a leaky Vessel. 1804Nelson 4 Nov. in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VI. 257 The Termagant Sloop will be going to Lisbon—she has had a long spell of service. 1824Southey in C. C. Southey Life (1850) V. 187, I have lately taken a pleasant spell at it, and have something more than a volume ready. 1857Hughes Tom Brown i. ii, The closeness of the men in action to one another..makes a spell at back-swording a very noble sight. 1885Manch. Exam. 18 Mar. 5/3 Twenty-five years without a holiday except on Sunday is certainly a remarkable spell of assiduous labour.
b. dial. and Austral. An interval or period of repose or relaxation; a rest.
Examples from 1863 to 1975 may be found in Dict. Newfoundland English (1982).
c1845J. Tucker Ralph Rashleigh (1929) xi. 146 Both men took a hoe and gave the children a spell. 1847J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provincial Words 781/2 Spell,..pleasure; relaxation. Somerset. 1852Mundy Antipodes (1857) 83 Your carriage horses will be all the better for a ‘spell’, (a rest). 1862J. S. Dobie Jrnl. 10 Sept. in S. Afr. Jrnl. (1945) 23 Invited to stay and give my horse a day's spell. 1865Tucker Austr. Story i. 84 The only recompense was..to light his pipe and have a ‘spell’. 1867M. A. Barker Station Life in N.Z. 128 We were all so breathless that a ‘spell’ (do you know that means ‘rest’?) would have been most acceptable. 1900H. Lawson On Track 107 He did not go back to work that night; he took a spell. 1931G. L. Nute Voyageur 96 Every five miles or so a halt was made to rest the dogs and to allow the men to smoke. These stops were termed ‘spells’ or ‘pipes’, and the voyageurs spoke of a day's journey as being so many spells or pipes. 1940F. Sargeson Man & his Wife (1944) 30 About half-way back to the shore he took a spell. 1954B. Miles Stars my Blanket xix. 141 We stopped for a ‘spell’ in the sandy bed, spreading out ground-sheets in the shade of the trees that lined the centre of it. 1972Regional Lang. Studies Newfoundland May 9 Spell, a period of rest or a short sleep. Used..in Newfoundland and in Anglo-Irish. 1977N.Z. Herald 8 Jan. 1–9/2 Marie Kay has been back racing only a little over a month following a long, enforced spell.
c. spell oh! (or spell ho!), used as a call or signal, usu. to rest or cease working; also = prec.
1837Marryat Dog Fiend I. ix. 94 ‘Come now,’ said Coble, tossing off his glass, ‘spell oh!—let's have a song while they take their breath’. 1841R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 124 Spell ho!..used as an order or request to be relieved at work by another. 1891Morris News fr. Nowhere 51 So he stayed his pick and sang out, ‘Spell ho, mates! here are neighbours want to get past’. 1900H. Lawson On Track 97 Bill..was having a spell-oh under the cask when the white rooster crowed.
4. a. A period or space of time of indefinite length; usu. with adjs. denoting duration, as long, short, etc.
1728Morgan Algiers Il. iv. 265 The Corsairs met with a brisk Reception and were warmly entertained for a good Spell. 1767Gibbon Let. to Holroyd 29 Apr., I hope to take a pretty long spell in town. 1775Romans Florida App. 56 Those unlucky persons..have lain that long spell wearing and tearing vessels and rigging. 1836Marryat Midsh. Easy xxvi, A hope that Mr. Easy would take his share of the duty, now that he had had such a spell on shore. 1860Mayne Reid Hunter's Feast xxii, It only halted a short spell, and then..it run up to the carcass. 1870M. Bridgman R. Lynne I. xii. 184 Thirty years! It is a good spell off a man's life.
b. A period having a certain character or spent in a particular way.
1830Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 175 The very sight of you..would go far towards giving these poor girls a spell of better health than..at present. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay i, Then came a spell of wandering, of high play, of rage for costly excitement, which..beggared him in a few years. 1885R. W. Dixon Hist. Ch. Eng. xix. III. 330 After a grievous spell of eighteen months on board the French galleys.
c. by spells, at intervals, now and again.
1788Massachusetts Spy 4 Sept. 3/2 It had..rained by spells for three days before. 1821in Cobbett Rur. Rides (1885) I. 2 To-day the fog came by spells. 1854Thoreau Walden xiii, I had an old axe..with which by spells in winter days..I played about the stumps. 1883Harper's Mag. Mar. 602/1 All day by ‘spells’ I have been out helping Jack make the garden.
d. for a spell, for a time. In U.S. without prep.; also a spell ago, some time ago.
(a)1834[Seba Smith] Lett. J. Downing xxx. (1835) 208 Mahogany was as cheap as pine boards was a spell ago. c1850‘Dow, Jr.’ in Jerdan Yankee Hum. (1853) 88 That woman who broomed me out of the house a spell ago.
(b)1745D. Giddings Jrnl. 27 May in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1912) XLVIII. 299, I..continued in ye Trench a Spell. 1834[Seba Smith] Lett. J. Downing xxvii. (1835) 179 So I whistled Yankee Doodle a spell. 1848Lowell Biglow P. Poems 1890 II. 11 He stood a spell on one foot fust, Then stood a spell on tother. 1884Harper's Mag. Feb. 410/2 He tried doctorin' a spell.
(c)1862Trollope N. Amer. I. 186, I wish those masons..could be driven to the labour market of Western America for a spell. 1890Melbourne Argus 7 June 4/1, I..was told by an honest and sensible doctor to..get out in the bush and work for a spell.
e. N.Z. One of the periods into which a game of rugby is divided.
1900N.Z. Illustr. Mag. III. 237/1 Usually in the second spell, when play is getting more exciting. 1934A. E. Mulgan Spur of Morning i. iii. 23 The school won a hard game by six to nil, a try in each spell.
f. Cricket. A period or series of overs during a session of play in which a bowler bowls unchanged.
1976J. Snow Cricket Rebel 77 On that last afternoon at Colchester I took three quick wickets in my first spell. 1977World of Cricket Monthly June 27/3 He was brilliantly caught by Richards at second-slip off Croft's first ball of a new spell.
5. a. A continuous period or stretch of a specified kind of weather.
1728T. Smith Jrnl. (1849) 265 For several days past, there has been a spell of comfortable weather. 1733Ibid. 266 This whole week has been a spell of warm weather. 1775Washington Lett. to J. Reed (1852) 32 The setting in of a severe spell of cold weather, and a considerable fall of snow. 1808Southey in C. C. Southey Life (1850) III. 163 We are now having a spell of wind and rain. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast iii, We have now had a long ‘spell’ of fine weather. 1897Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. Dec. 663 If a spell of cold wind..should prevail.
attrib.1868Pall Mall G. 28 July 4 On the supposition that such ‘spell-weather’, as the Americans call it, is to last for ever.
b. With adjs., as cold, hot, dry, wet, etc.
1740T. Smith Jrnl. (1849) 268, I believe no man ever knew so winter-like a spell so early in the year. 1797Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 157 You wish to know the state of the air here during the late cold spell. 1817–8Cobbett Resid. U.S. (1822) 286 The hot spells as well as the cold spells, seldom last more than three days. 1860Maury Phys. Geog. iv. §241 The phenomena of cold and warm ‘spells’ are often observed in the United States. 1887Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 23 Aug. 5 Everybody found smoking on the streets..during the dry spell was liable to be arrested.
6. U.S. A period of being indisposed, out of sorts, or irritable; an attack or fit of illness or nervous excitement.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. iii. 47 An attack of partial epilepsy; one of those strange indescribable spells, fits, seizures, whatever name the jargon gives them, which indicate deep disturbance. 1869Mrs. Stowe Oldtown xvi, When Hepsy does get beat out she has spells, and she goes on awful, and they last day arter day. 1889Gunter That Frenchman xvii. 210 Oh! blues, hysteria, headache, tantrums—any ill that's particularly feminine, we call spells in America.
▪ IV. spell, n.4 colloq.|spɛl|
[f. spell v.2]
A way or mode of spelling a word.
1702C. Mather Magn. Chr. vii. v. (1852) 546 There were eighteen horrid false spells..in one short note that I received from him. 1801Monthly Mag. XII. 299 Why should this spell (as school children say, and, I think, rightly, for mode of spelling) be authorized?
▪ V. spell, n.5 Cant.
[a. Du. or Flem. spel (G. spiel), or abbrev. of spellken.]
A playhouse or theatre. Also attrib.
1812J. H. Vaux Flash Dict., Spell, the play-house. 1819― Mem. II. 199 They say, the push, as the push at the spell doors. 1865Slang Dict. 241 ‘Precious rum squeeze at the spell,’ i.e. a good evening's work at the theatre.
▪ VI. spell, v.1 Obs. or dial.
Forms: 1 spellian, -iᵹan (spillian), 2–4 spellen, 3–5 spelle, 4–6 spel, 4– spell.
[OE. spellian (f. spel spell n.1), = OHG. -spellôn (MHG. spellen, G. dial. spellen, spillen), MDu. and MLG. spellen, Goth. spillôn, ON. spjalla, to talk, discourse, etc.
It is doubtful how far some modern dialect uses of spell represent this word.]
1. intr. To discourse or preach; to talk, converse, or speak.
c888K. ælfred Boeth. xvi. §1 Þa ongan he eft spellian & þus cwæþ. c950Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xxiv. 15 Miððy [hia] woeron spellendo vel ᵹespelledon. c1000Sax. Leechd. III. 202 Mid deadum spellian, ᵹestrion hit ᵹetacnað. a1200Vices & Virtues 121 Ða ðe Crist gann arst to spellen,..ða sade he [etc.]. a1300Cursor M. 8520 He þat mikel has for to tell þe scortliker he aght to spell. a1375Lay Folks Mass Bk. App. iv. 508 Iesus..dude him aȝeyn in paradis,..Wiþ speche as I ow spelle. a1450Le Morte Arth. 3722 What helpeth lenger for to spelle? c1450Holland Howlat 99 He suld spedely speike, and spair nocht to spell.
b. Const. of (the thing spoken of).
c1200Ormin 6389 Þa lifess þatt icc habbe ȝuw Summ del nu spelledd offe. a1300Cursor M. 95 Qua-sa will of hyr fayrnes spell, Find he sal inogh to tell. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10613 Til Domesday men schalle spelle..of Arthures dedes. a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 379 in Babees Bk., Now of marschalle of halle wylle I spelle, And what falle to hys offyce now wylle y telle. c1450Lovelich Grail xxxvii. 455 I beleve ryht wel That this is he of whom ȝe spelle. 1530in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. II. 186 I assure your Grace shall sease and put to sylence sum persons that moche spelyth of the same.
2. trans. To utter, declare, relate, tell.
a1000Boeth. Metr. Proem 4 Him wæs lust micel ðæt he ðiossum leodum leoð spellode. c1200Ormin Ded. 311 I wollde..Þatt all Ennglisshe lede..Wiþþ tunge shollde spellenn itt. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 112 Acke of seint thomas him⁓selue þat beste cometh nou to spelle. c1320Cast. Love 692 No tonge ne may hit telle, Ne þouȝt þenche, ne mouþ spelle. 1390Gower Conf. II. 20 I can noght thanne unethes spelle That I wende altherbest have rad. 1426Audelay Poems 28 He that spekys and spedys noȝt, he spellys the wynd. c1485Digby Myst. (1882) v. 275 Blessed is that soule that this speche spelles. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. (Percy Soc.) 68 Pryvely I did his lesson spel, Sayeng to him, my chance and desteny Of al other is the moste unhappy.
▪ VII. spell, v.2|spɛl|
Pa. tense and pple. spelled, spelt. Also 4–5 spelle, 5 spellyn; 5–7 spel.
[ad. OF. espeller (also espeler, mod.F. épeler: see spele v.2), f. the Germanic stem spell-: see prec. and spell n.1 The earlier OF. type *espeldre is represented by spelder v.1 Du. and Flem. spellen, WFris. spelle, spjelle, in this sense may also be from French, rather than directly connected with spell v.1]
I. trans.
1. a. To read (a book, etc.) letter by letter; to peruse, or make out, slowly or with difficulty.
a1300Cursor M. 14692 Your aun bok yee can noght spell. c1400Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) VII. 333 Lanfranc..took hym a þing with letter [L. abecedarium litterarum] for to spel. c1440Promp. Parv. 468/1 Spellyn (S. letters), sillabico. 1530Palsgr. 728/1 He hath bene at scole thys halfe yere and yet he can nat spell his pater noster. 1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii. s.v., He begins to spell the Letters.
1780Mirror No. 75, What must be the state of him who sits down to spell the newspapers with the determined resolution of believing whatever he sees in print? 1807Crabbe Par. Reg. iii. 298 As they approach to spell the age, the name, And all the titles of th' illustrious dame. 1825T. Hook Sayings Ser. ii. Passion and Princ. vi, Reading all the newspapers, spelling the red-book and the directory. 1850Thackeray Pendennis v, He was spelling the paper, with the help of his lips.
b. With out or over.
c1813S. Smith in Lady Holland Mem. S. Smith (1855) I. vii. 157 He..spelt over the county paper on Sundays. 1820Shelley Witch Atl. xxvi, All day the wizard lady sate aloof, Spelling out scrolls of dread antiquity. 1864Thackeray D. Duval i. (1869) 4 It used to be my lot as a boy to spell out my lady Viscountess's letters to her.
c. To make (one's way) letter by letter in reading.
1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. i. I. 45 Not one man in five hundred could have spelled his way through a psalm.
2. fig.
a. To discover or find out, to guess or suspect, by close study or observation. Also with out.
1587Golding De Mornay i. 8 A plaine booke laide open to all men..to reade, and (as yee would say) euen to spell God therein. 1635Jackson Creed viii. xxii. 252 The babes then did spel the Prophets meaning not amisse. 1691tr. Emiliane's Observ. Journ. Naples 82 Spelling nothing good from it, he went immediately to the Door of the Church. 1707Norris Treat. Humility vii. 324 One may make a shift to spell out who is the gentleman, and who it is that would only be thought so. 1879Spurgeon Serm. XXV. 333 That there should be a God, heathens might spell out.
b. To make out, understand, decipher, or comprehend, by study. Also with out.
1635Jackson Creed viii. xvii. 189 Hee that could rightly spell the severall passages in the forementioned authors. 1671Milton P.R. iv. 385 By what the Stars..In thir conjunction met, give me to spell. 1681J. Flavel Meth. Grace xi. 238 Christ is an unsearchable mercy: who can spell his wonderful name? 1791Cowper Iliad v. 77 Unskill'd to spell aright The oracles predictive of the woe. 1820Praed Surly Hall 80 Poems 1864 II. 117 He..spells a horse's teeth divinely. 1842H. Rogers Ess. (1874) I. i. 36 The arts of spelling out and piecing the mouldering records of antiquity. 1886Dowden Shelley (1887) I. ii. 72 Nor was his an intellect that could spell out patiently the lessons of nature.
c. To consider, contemplate, scan intently. Also with over.
1633G. Herbert Temple iv, Will great God measure with a wretch? Shall he thy stature spell? 1654H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 118 So that in short (all circumstances spell'd together) I may safely say [etc.]. 1821Scott Kenilw. vii, I will sit on this footstool at thy feet, that I may spell over thy splendour. 1823― Quentin D. xiii, As if he were in the act of internally spelling and dissecting every lineament and feature. 1859Tennyson Vivien 217 For still I find Your face is practised when I spell the lines.
d. To turn out (literary work or writing) with some difficulty.
1829Scott Jrnl. 15 May, I have spelled out some work this day, though I have been rather knocked about.
3. a. To name or set down in order the letters of (a word or syllable); to enunciate or write letter by letter; to denote by certain letters in a particular order.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 50 What is Ab speld backward with the horn on his head? a1595R. Southwell Mæoniæ, Virgin's Salutation, Spell Eva back and Ave shall you find. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. 151 Cause also euery one to spel the words which he hath made in Latine,..so as [etc.]. 1693Dryden Disc. Satire Ess. (ed. Ker) II. 67 If this be so, then it is false spelled throughout this book. Ibid. The French..never spell it any other way than satire. 1750Gray Elegy 81 Their name, their years, spelt by th' unletter'd Muse, The place of fame and elegy supply. 1784Cowper Task i. 283 Leaving an obscure, rude name, In characters uncouth, and spelt amiss. 1842Proc. Philol. Soc. I. 7 Their mode of spelling the passive participle. 1888Sweet Hist. Eng. Sounds 70 The same word may be spelt in half-a-dozen different ways on the same page.
fig.a1668R. Lassels Voy. Italy (1670) I. Pref., Though these things be but the Elements and Alphabet of breeding, yet without them he can never spel gentleman rightly.
b. Similarly with out.
1867Chambers's Encycl. IX. 52/2 The medium, under spirit-guidance, spelling out the requisite words. 1871M. Legrand Cambr. Freshm. 356 The machine was clicking away, and the needle rapidly spelling out its message. 1899Bullen Way Navy 88 The discordant notes of sirens spelling out each ship's name.
c. Of letters: To form (a word).
1834Marryat J. Faithful iv, What doth c-a-t spell then? 1852Dickens Bleak Ho. v, He went on quickly, until he had formed..the word Jarndyce... ‘What does that spell?’ he asked me.
d. slang. (See quot.)
1865Slang Dict. 241 Spell, to advertise, to put into print.
e. U.S. to spell (someone) down: to defeat (someone) in a spelling-contest. †
f. U.S. To put to the test in spelling. Obs.
1854B. F. Taylor Jan. & June 259 They all stand in solid phalanx by schools, and the struggle is, to spell each other down. 1866C. H. Smith Bill Arp 171 He then spelt him right straight along on all sorts of big words, and little words. 1871E. Eggleston Hoosier Schoolm. (1872) iv. 47 Ralph dreaded the loss of influence..if he should be easily spelled down. 1932Randolph Enterprise (Elkins, W. Va.) 18 Feb. 4/5 He was fairly spelled down at close of my school at Job, spring 1882, by a little girl not 7 years old. 1952T. Pyles Words & Ways of Amer. Eng. (1954) v. 82 He who misspelled had to take his seat; the master's purpose was to ‘spell down’ the pupils.
g. fig. to spell out (orig. U.S.): to explain (something) step by step; to state explicitly or in detail.
1940San Francisco News 31 Dec. 11 In the interest of clarifying public opinion, these opponents should spell out their position fully. 1952B. Wolfe Limbo '90 (1953) xxiv. 390 Spelling out the bald verities to a retarded child. 1956J. Potts Diehard xiii. 196 If you weren't such a fool you'd know it too. You want me to spell it out in words of one syllable for you? 1960Guardian 1 Nov. 8/5 Dr. Kaldor would apparently have us spell all these things out. But..there really is a limit to the amount of detail..to which a party in Opposition can commit itself. 1973G. W. Turner Stylistics vi. 171 An electrician asking which of three wires is ‘the earth’ clearly means ‘the earth(ed) wire’ or ‘the wire connected with the earth’, but hardly needs to spell it out. 1978J. A. Michener Chesapeake v. 239 With studied care Thomas Janney spelled out the terms of the deal he had arranged.
4. fig.
†a. to spell (one) backward, to misrepresent; to pervert. Obs.
1599Shakes. Much Ado iii. i. 60, I neuer yet saw man..But she would spell him backward. 1669Hopkins Serm. (1685) 42 What is this but to spell the Magistrates backwards and to give him that power over your consciences by his prohibitions, which you deny to his commands?
b. to spell..short, to express by a shorter and blunter term.
1830De Quincey R. Bentley Wks. 1857 VII. 76 A dedication..was what the French used to understand by a pot-de-vin; in fact, ‘spelt short,’ it was a bribe.
c. to spell baker, to have, or perform, a difficult task. U.S. colloq.
1868Longfellow Giles Corey ii. i, If an old man will marry a young wife, Why then—why then—why then—he must spell Baker!
5. To amount to; to signify, imply, or involve. (Common in recent use.)
a1661Fuller (Webster), The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect.
1890Saintsbury in New Rev. Feb. 142 There can be no question..that ‘Republic’ usually spells ‘corruption’. 1891Spectator 27 June, To go on trading on these terms would very soon spell ruin.
II. intr.
6. a. To form words by means of letters; to repeat or set down the letters of words; to read off the separate letters forming a word or words.
a1400–50Alexander 630 He..wonder wele leres, Sped him in a schort space to spell & to rede. 1570Levins Manip. 55 To spel, syllabam coponere. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 88 O she knew well, Thy Loue did read by rote, that could not spell. c1645Milton Sonn. xi, Some in file Stand spelling fals. 1685Baxter Paraphr. N.T. Matt. xiii. 13, I speak to them in similitudes, as children must be first taught to spell. 1712Swift Prop. Correcting Eng. Tongue Wks. 1841 II. 288 A foolish opinion..that we ought to spell exactly as we speak. a1764Lloyd Poet Poet. Wks. 1774 II. 23 Those who cannot spell will Talk. 1816Byron A Sketch 14 She taught the child to read, and taught so well, That she herself, by teaching, learn'd to spell. 1870Rogers Hist. Gleanings Ser. ii. 137 He never could spell accurately.
b. fig. To engage in study or contemplation of something. poet.
1632Milton Penseroso 170 The..Mossy Cell, Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every Star that Heav'n doth shew. 1738Gray Propertius ii. 15 Then let me rightly spell of nature's ways.
7. a. To intimate or suggest a desire for something; to ask for, either by hints or direct request.
WFlem. spellen is similarly used (De Bo).
1790Bentham Wks. (1843) X. 230 Was it natural..to spell for such a thing in the most distant manner? 1818Jane Austen Persuasion II. x. 215, I had not the smallest intention of asking him,..but he gave so many hints;..I never saw any body in my life spell harder for an invitation. 1840J. H. Newman Lett. (1891) I. 429 Before I had given him anything, he began to spell for something. 1860Ibid. II. 105 It will be observed..that he ‘spelled’ for the curacy. 1876Robinson Whitby Gloss. 181/2 ‘He was a good hand at spelling for't,’ clever at entreaty.
b. With other constructions.
c1800R. Cumberland John De Lancaster (1809) II. 52 Nephew David spells hard to borrow him, but I won't lend him to David of all men living. 1821Combe Syntax, Wife iv. (Chandos Cl.) 339 Syntax with native keenness felt At what the cunning tradesman spelt. 1855[Robinson] Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘He spell'd hard in the matter,’ he endeavoured perseveringly to gain his point.
▪ VIII. spell, v.3|spɛl|
[Later form of spele v.1 Cf. spell n.3]
1. trans. To take the place of (a person) at some work or labour; to relieve (another) by taking a turn at work. Now U.S.
1595Raleigh Discov. Guiana (1596) 44 Euery gentleman and others taking their turns to row, and to spell one the other at the howers end. 1823T. Roughley Jamaica Planter's Guide 340 Sometimes there are two ostensible boilers to spell and relieve one another. Ibid., When he is obliged to be spelled, for the purpose of natural rest [etc.]. 1857Goodrich Recoll. I. 62, I was sometimes permitted..to spell my father in this favorite employment [sc. shelling corn]. 1873Lowell Lett. (1894) II. 91 He tells me that the Finns recite their poems six or seven hours on the stretch, spelling one another, as we say in New England.
b. To relieve by an interval of rest; to rest (esp. a horse). Chiefly Austr.
1846Stokes Disc. Australia II. i. 42 In order to spell the oars, we landed at a point on the east side. 1867H. Bushnell Mor. Uses Dark Th. 252 Nature is put under a heavy pressure..; spelled by no relaxations, freshened by no play of society. 1885Mrs. C. Praed Head Station xli. III. 202 They are camping at Araluen and spelling the horses.
2. Naut. To take a turn or turns of work at (the pump, etc.).
1769Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v., Thus we say, spell the pump, spell the lead, &c. 1782Loss of H.M.S. Centaur 3 The Captain was obliged to turn all hands up to spell the pump.
3. intr.
a. To replace one set of workers by another; to take turns.
1861Mayhew Lond. Lab. (ed. 2) III. 247 We go on in that way throughout the day, spelling at every 28 tons.
b. Austr. To take an interval of rest.
1880Victoria in 1880 114 (Morris), He ‘spelled’ upon the ground. 1890Melbourne Argus 13 June 6/1 Working a steady stroke through the day, smoking and spelling as they willed. 1893J. A. Barry S. Brown's Bunyip 2 It was Sunday, and the caravan was spelling for the day.
▪ IX. spell, v.4|spɛl|
[f. spell n.1 3.]
1. trans. To charm, fascinate, bewitch, bind by (or as by) a spell; to act as a spell upon.
a1623Buck Rich. III (1646) 116 For a time he was much speld with Elianor Talbot. 1682Dryden & Lee Dk. Guise iv, He durst not touch me; But aw'd and craven'd as he had been spell'd [etc.]. 1793F. Burney Diary V. ix. 397 Susanna's temporary widowhood..has spelled me with a spell I know not how to break. 1816Keats To a Friend who sent me some Roses 12 But when..thy roses came to me My sense with their deliciousness was spell'd. 1876Good Words 687 We stayed our walk—spelled to the spot—to watch The sunset glorifying earth and sky.
b. To protect (one) from, to drive away, by means of a spell or charm.
1691Dryden K. Arthur i. ii, Thor, Freya, Woden, hear and spell your Saxons, With sacred Runic rhymes, from death in battle. 1876Tinsley's Mag. XVIII. 240 Thy soft voice spelled away All my dearth.
2. To invest with magical properties.
1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 445 This, gather'd in the Planetary Hour, With noxious Weeds, and spell'd with Words of Pow'r, Dire Stepdames in the Magick Bowl infuse.
Hence spelled, ˈspelling ppl. adjs.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iii. 31 Vnchaine your spirits now with spelling Charmes. 1838S. Bellamy Betrayal 22 To such end his spell'd appearance wrought.
▪ X. † spell, v.5 Naut. Obs.
[Of obscure origin; partly confused with spill v.]
(See quots.)
c1635N. Boteler Dial. Sea Service (1685) 167 Take in the Missen-mast; or at the least, Peek it up: which Peeking up is called Spelling the Missen. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Spell, a Sea Word signifying to let go the Sheats and Bowlings of a Sail, (chiefly the Missen) and Bracing the weather Brace in the Wind, that the Sail may lie loose in the Wind. 1711[see speek v.2].
▪ XI. spell, v.6 dial.
Also 9 spel.
[f. spell n.2]
1. trans.
a. To fit with bars or cross-pieces.
b. To put into splints.
1641Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 61 The best way for spellinge of an hive is to putte in the two lowermost spelles aboute 4 wreathes from the bottome of the hive, and the two uppermost spelles just 4 wreathes above them. 1886S.W. Linc. Gloss. 138 The Doctor did not spell it while to-day.
2. trans. and intr. To splinter.
1811Farey Derbyshire I. 367 On his return, [he] finds all the Vein-stuff so furrowed, spelled, or slappeted off. 1829Glover's Hist. Derby I. 81 Where the hard 1st toadstone also, in the gates and shafts, thus spels off. |