spell

spell
spell
A n
1 (period) moment m, période f ; a spell of sth une période de qch ; for a spell pendant un certain temps ; for a long/short spell pendant une longue/courte période ; a spell as director/as minister une brève période comme directeur/ministre ; she had a spell at the wheel/on the computer elle a passé un certain temps au volant/à l'ordinateur ; a spell in hospital/in prison un séjour à l'hôpital/en prison ; a warm/cold spell une période de beau temps/de froid ; rainy spell ondée f ; sunny spell éclaircie f ; to go through a bad spell traverser une mauvaise passe ;
2 (magic words) formule f magique ; evil spell maléfice m ; to be under a spell être envoûté ; to cast ou put a spell on sb lit, fig jeter or lancer un sort à qn ; to break a spell rompre un sortilège ; to break the spell fig rompre le charme ; to be/fall under sb's spell fig être/tomber sous le charme de qn.
B vtr (pp, prét spelled ou spelt)
1 (aloud) épeler ; (on paper) écrire ; the word is spelt like this le mot s'écrit comme ça ; she spells her name with/without an e son nom s'écrit avec/sans e ; to spell sth correctly ou properly orthographier qch correctement ; the word is correctly/wrongly spelt le mot est bien/mal orthographié ; C-A-T spells cat les lettres C-A-T forment le mot cat ; will you spell that please? (on phone) pouvez-vous l'épeler, s'il vous plaît? ;
2 (imply) représenter [danger, disaster, ruin] ; sonner [end] ; annoncer [fame] ; her letter spelt happiness sa lettre était une perspective de bonheur ; the defeat spelt the end of a civilization/for our team la défaite a sonné la fin d'une civilisation/pour notre équipe.
C vi (pp, prét spelled ou spelt) [person] connaître l'orthographe ; he can't spell il ne connaît pas l'orthographe ; he spells badly/well il a une mauvaise/bonne orthographe ; to learn (how) to spell apprendre l'orthographe.
Phrasal verb
■ spell out :
▶ spell out [sth], spell [sth] out
1 lit épeler [word] ;
2 fig expliquer [qch] clairement [consequences, demands, details, implications, policy] ; I had to spell it out to him j'ai dû le lui expliquer clairement ; do I have to spell it out (to you)? est-ce qu'il faut que je te fasse un dessin?

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.

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  • Spell — Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spelled}or {Spelt}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spelling}.] [OE. spellen, spellien, tell, relate, AS. spellian, fr. spell a saying, tale; akin to MHG. spellen to relate, Goth. spill?n.e {Spell} a tale. In sense 4 and those… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spell — can be: *Spell (paranormal) * Spell (recipe) * The Spell , a novel * *Spell (band), a musical group consisting of Boyd Rice and Rose McDowall *The Spells, an American indie rock band of the late 1990s consisting of Carrie Brownstein and Mary… …   Wikipedia

  • spell — spell1 [spel] n. [ME < OE, a saying, tale, charm, akin to Goth spill, tale < ? IE base * (s)pel , to speak loudly] 1. a word, formula, or form of words thought to have some magic power; incantation 2. seemingly magical power or irresistible …   English World dictionary

  • spell — Ⅰ. spell [1] ► VERB (past and past part. spelled or chiefly Brit. spelt) 1) write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence. 2) (of letters) make up or form (a word). 3) be a sign of; lead to: the plans would spell disaster. 4) …   English terms dictionary

  • Spell — Spell, n. 1. The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead. [1913 Webster] A spell at the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spell — n Spell, shift, tour, trick, turn, stint, bout, go can mean a limited period or amount of some activity that often follows a schedule. Spell is ordinarily used in reference to very heavy or trying work which must be interrupted by a period of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Spell — Spell, n.[AS. spell a saying, tale, speech; akin to OS. & OHG. spel, Icel. spjall,Goth. spill. Cf. {Gospel}, {Spell} to tell the letters of.] 1. A story; a tale. [Obs.] Hearken to my spell. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. A stanza, verse, or phrase… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spell — [n1] interval, period bit, bout, course, go, hitch, interlude, intermission, patch, relay, season, shift, space, stint, streak, stretch, term, time, tour, tour of duty, trick, turn, while; concepts 807,817,822 spell [n2] magical aura over an… …   New thesaurus

  • Spell — Spell, v. i. 1. To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing. [1913 Webster] When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell, And he a god, who could but read or spell. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To study… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spell — Spell, n. [OE. speld, AS. speld a spill to light a candle with; akin to D. speld a pin, OD. spelle, G. spalten to split, OHG. spaltan, MHG. spelte a splinter, Icel. spjald a square tablet, Goth. spilda a writing tablet. Cf. {Spill}splinter, roll… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spell — Spell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Spelling}.] [AS. spelian to supply another s place.] To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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