Might I that legend find, By fairies spelt in mystic
rhymes. --T. Warton.
2. To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a
spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm. ``Spelled with
words of power.'' --Dryden.
He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot. --Sir G.
Buck.
3. To constitute; to measure. [Obs.]
The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together
did spell but one in effect. --Fuller.
4. To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a
word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the
proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography.
The word ``satire'' ought to be spelled with i, and
not with y. --Dryden.
5. To discover by characters or marks; to read with
difficulty; -- usually with out; as, to spell out the
sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible.
To spell out a God in the works of creation.
--South.
To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon
every accident. --Milton.
A spell at the wheel is called a trick. --Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
2. The time during which one person or gang works until
relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time,
whether a few hours, days, or weeks.
Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the
setting in of a severe spell of cold weather.
--Washington.
3. One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells.
[R.]
Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it
above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by
spells. --Garew.
4. A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a
logging spell. [Local, U.S.]
2. A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with
magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.
Start not; her actions shall be holy as You hear my
spell is lawful. --Shak.
When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell,
And he a god, who could but read or spell. --Dryden.
2. To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn
the meaning of anything, by study. [Obs.]
Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that
heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew.
--Milton.