SPELL, n. [The verb primarily signifies to throw or drive, and is probably formed on the root of L. pello. In some of the application of spell, we observe the sense of turn. We observe the same in throw, warp, cant, &c.]

1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] – Chaucer.
2. A charm consisting of some words of occult power. Start not; her actions shall be holy; / You hear my spell is lawful. – Shak. Begin, begin, the mystic spell prepare. – Milton.
3. A turn of work; relief; turn of duty. Take a spell at the pump. – Seamen. Their toil is so extreme, that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells. – Carew.
4. In New England, a short time; a little time. [Not elegant.]
5. A turn of gratuitous labor, sometimes accompanied with presents. People give their neighbors a spell. – N. England.

1. To form words with the proper letters, either in reading or writing. He knows not how to spell. Our orthography is so irregular that most persons never learn to spell.
2. To read. – Milton.

1. To tell or name the letters of a word, with a proper division of syllables, for the purpose of learning the pronunciation. In this manner children learn to read by first spelling the words.
2. To write or print with the proper letters; to form words by correct orthography. The word satire ought to be spelled with i, and not with y. – Dryden.
3. To take another's place or turn temporarily in any labor or service. [This is a popular use of the word in New England.]
4. To charm; as, spelled with words of power. – Dryden.
5. To read; to discover by characters or marks; write out; as, to spell out the sense of an author. – Milton. We are not left to spell out a God in the works of creation. – South.
6. To tell; to relate; to teach. [Not in use.] – Wotton.

1. A spelk, or splinter.
   
   
   [Obs.] Holland.
2. To supply the place of for a time] to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
3. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead.
   
   

   A spell at the wheel is called a trick. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

4. A story] a tale.
   
   
   [Obs.] "Hearken to my spell." Chaucer.
5. To tell; to relate; to teach.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   Might I that legend find,
   By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes. T. Warton.

6. To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing.
   
   

   When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell,
   And he a god, who could but read or spell. Dryden.

7. The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.
   
   

   Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather. Washington.

8. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.
   
   

   Start not; her actions shall be holy as
   You hear my spell is lawful. Shak.

9. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
   
   
   "Spelled with words of power." Dryden.

   He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot. Sir G. Buck.

10. To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    Where I may sit and rightly spell
    Of every star that heaven doth shew,
    And every herb that sips the dew. Milton.

11. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells.
    
    
    [R.]

    Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells. Garew.

12. To constitute; to measure.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect. Fuller.

13. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell.
    
    
    [Local, U.S.]
14. To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography.
    
    

    The word "satire" ought to be spelled with i, and not with y. Dryden.

15. To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; -- usually with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible.
    
    

    To spell out a God in the works of creation. South.

    To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident. Milton.