A Quick and Simple Dictionary

spell

1. Noun.  (obsolete) Speech, discourse. (defdate, 8th-15th c.) .
2. Noun.  Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
3. Noun.  A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
4. Verb.  (obsolete) To speak, to declaim. (defdate, 9th-16th c.) .
5. Verb.  (transitive, obsolete) To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort. (defdate, from 14th c.) .
6. Verb.  (transitive, sometimes with “out”) To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
7. Verb.  (transitive) Of letters: to compose (a word). (defdate, from 19th c.) .
8. Verb.  (transitive, figuratively) To indicate that (some event) will occur. (defdate, from 19th c.) .
9. Verb.  (transitive, figuratively) To clarify; to explain in detail. (defdate, from 20th c.) .
10. Noun.  (dialectal) A splinter, usually of wood.
11. Verb.  (transitive) To work in place of (someone).
12. Verb.  (transitive) To rest (someone or something).
13. Noun.  A shift (of work); a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour. (defdate, from 16th c.) .
14. Noun.  A period of (work or other activity). (defdate, from 18th c.) .
15. Noun.  An indefinite period of time (usually with some qualifying word). (defdate, from 18th c.) .
16. Noun.  A period of rest; time off. (defdate, from 19th c.) .
17. Noun.  (US) A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc. (defdate, from 19th c.) .
18. Noun.  (cricket) An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler. (defdate, from 20th c.) .