spell

¹spell

verb \ˈspel\

spelled\ˈspeld, ˈspelt\spell·ing

Definition of SPELL

transitive verb

1

: to read slowly and with difficulty —often used with out

2

: to find out by study : come to understand —often used with out <it requires some pains to spell out those decorations — F. J. Mather>

3

a (1) : to name the letters of in order; also : to write or print the letters of in order (2) : to write or print the letters of in a particular way b : to make up (a word) <what word do these letters spell> c : write 1b <catnip is spelled as one word>

4

: to add up to : mean <crop failure was likely to spell stark famine — Stringfellow Barr>

intransitive verb

: to form words with letters <teach children to spell>; also : to spell words in a certain way <spells the way he speaks>

Origin of SPELL

Middle English, to mean, signify, read by spelling out letters, from Anglo-French espeleir, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English spellian to relate, spell talk

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with SPELL

bel, bell, belle, cel, cell, dell, dwell, el, ell, fell, gel, Hel, hell, jell, knell, l, mell, quell, sell, shell, smell, snell, swell, tell, well, yell