Main Entry: ¹spell

Pronunciation: \ˈspel\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): spelled \ˈspeld, ˈspelt\; spell·ing

Etymology: 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

Date: 14th century

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>