A Spell

Spell

Etymology

From Middle English spell, from Old English spell (“story, tale, saying, speech, discourse”), related to spellian (“to tell, speak”). The meaning “a magical formula” developed through the idea of words being spoken or written as part of magic. The sense “a period of time” has a separate historical development, from Middle English spell (“turn, shift, period of work”), likely related to Old English spellian or a Scandinavian source.

Meanings

• A set of words, gestures, or actions believed to have magical power; an incantation or charm.
• To use or perform magic by pronouncing or writing a magical formula.
• To write or say the letters of a word in the correct order.
• A short period or stretch of time.
• A period of work taken by one person in place of another; a shift or turn.
• A state of fascination or enchantment: under a spell.

Arabic equivalents

• تعويذة / رُقية سحرية / تعويذة سحرية — a magical formula.
• يُمارس السحر / يُلقي تعويذة — as a verb meaning to use magic.
• يتهجّى / يَلفظ حروف الكلمة — to spell a word.
• فترة / مدة قصيرة — a period of time.
• نوبة / مناوبة / وردية — a work shift.
• تحت تأثير السحر / مسحور — in the phrase under a spell.

Norwegian equivalents

• trolldom — سحر أو شعوذة.
• trylleformular — تعويذة أو صيغة سحرية.
• fortryllelse** — سحر أو افتتان.
• å stave — يتهجّى.
• periode / stund — فترة أو مدة.
• vakt / skift — مناوبة أو وردية عمل.

Examples

• The witch cast a spell. — ألقت الساحرة تعويذة.
• Can you spell your name? — هل يمكنك تهجئة اسمك؟
• We had a spell of cold weather. — مررنا بفترة من الطقس البارد.
• He worked a night shift. — عمل في مناوبة ليلية.

Source: Wiktionary — “spell” (definitions and etymology; accessed 16 August 2026).