Origin and history of spell

early 14c., spellen, "read letter by letter, write or say the letters of;" c. 1400, "form words by means of letters," said in most etymology sources to be from Anglo-French espeller, Old French espelir "to mean, signify; explain, interpret," also "spell out letters, pronounce, recite."

This French word is from Frankish *spellon "to tell" or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *spellam (source also of Dutch spellen, Old High German spellon "to tell," Old Norse spjalla, Gothic spillon "to talk, tell").

The native cognate word is Old English spellian, spillian "to tell, talk, speak, discourse." Only Barnhart seems to allow that the modern English word is partially from the Old English one, due to the difference in sense.

Klein's sources suggest a possible origin for this Germanic group in a PIE root *spel- (2) "to say aloud, recite, speak with emphasis" and cognates in Greek apeilē "threat" among other words, but Beekes finds the suggestion "rather far-fetched."

Also in early use speldren, from Old French espeldre, a variant of espelir. Related: Spelled; spelling.

In early Middle English still "to speak, preach, talk, tell," hence such expressions as hear spell "hear (something) told or talked about," spell the wind "talk in vain" (both 15c.). The meaning "form words with proper letters" is from 1580s.

Spell out "explain step-by-step" is recorded from 1940, American English. Shakespeare has spell (someone) backwards "reverse the character of, explain in a contrary sense, portray with determined negativity."

Middle English spel, from Old English spell "story, saying, tale, story in prose as opposed to verse; history, narrative, fable; discourse, command," in late Old English "sermon, religious instruction," from Proto-Germanic *spellam (see spell (v.1)). Compare Old Saxon spel, Old Norse spjall, Old High German spel, Gothic spill "report, discourse, tale, fable, myth;" German Beispiel "example."

The oldest senses are obsolete. From c. 1200 as "an utterance, something said, a statement, remark;" the meaning "set of words with supposed magical or occult powers, incantation, charm" is recorded from 1570s; hence any occult influence or means or cause of enchantment.

The term 'spell' is generally used for magical procedures which cause harm, or force people to do something against their will — unlike charms for healing, protection, etc. ["Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore"]

That sense of spell does not appear to be in Middle English, but Gower (1390) has spelling of charmes for "casting or reciting of spells;" Chaucer has night-spell for "charm for protection from evil spirits in the night."

In general terms, the belief underlying the use of spells is that the wish that they embody will be fulfilled, regardless of its goodness or badness, so long as the formula has been correctly pronounced. Broadly speaking, then, spell and prayer, like magic and religion to which they severally belong, can be distinguished by the nature of the intended purpose. [Enyclopaedia Britannica, 1941]

Also in Old English, "doctrine; a sermon; religious instruction or teaching; the gospel; a book of the Bible" (compare gospel, which preserves the older sense). The 11c. glossaries give spel for Latin fabula.

"work temporarily in place of (another)," 1590s, earlier spele, from Middle English spelen, "give (someone) rest or reprieve," from Old English spelian "to take the place of, be substitute for, represent," related to gespelia "substitute," a word of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to spilian "to play" (see spiel). Related: Spelled; spelling.

1620s, "a turn of work in place of another," from spell (v.2); compare Old English gespelia "a substitute." Earlier it was used of the persons taking the turn of duty or work (1590s). The meaning shifted toward "continuous course of work or duty" (1706), probably via shift work (as at sea) where one man or crew regularly "spelled" another.

Hence "interval of time within definite limits, continuous stretch" (of weather, etc.), a sense recorded by 1728. In U.S. colloquial use, "a bad time, an uncomfortable turn" (1853).

Hence also, via the notion in give a spell (1750) "relieve another by taking a turn of work," the sense of "interval of rest or relaxation" (1845), which took the word to a sense opposite its original.