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spell³

(spĕl)

1. A short, indefinite period of time.

2. Informal A period of weather of a particular kind: a dry spell.

a. One's turn at work.

b. A period of work; a shift.

4. Australian A period of rest.

5. Informal A period of physical or mental disorder or distress: a dizzy spell.

6. Informal A short distance.

v. spelled, spell·ing, spells

v.tr.

1. To relieve (someone) from work temporarily by taking a turn.

2. To allow (someone) to rest a while.

v.intr.

1. To take turns working.

2. Australian To rest for a time from an activity.

[From Middle English spelen, to spare, from Old English spelian, to represent, substitute for.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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