Spelling - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Spelling :  (noun)

1: forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage

Based on WordNet 2.0

Spell \Spell\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spelledor 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 following, OE. spellen, perhaps originally a different word, and from or influenced by spell a splinter, from the use of a piece of wood to point to the letters in schools: cf. D. spellen to spell. Cf. Spell splinter.] 1. To tell; to relate; to teach. [Obs.]

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 sitSpelling : and observing divine justice upon every accident. --Milton.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Spelling : \Spell"ing\, n. The act of one who spells; formation of words by letters; orthography.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Spelling : \Spell"ing\, a. Of or pertaining to spelling.

Spelling bee, a spelling match. [U.S.]

Spelling book, a book with exercises for teaching children to spell; a speller.

Spelling match, a contest of skill in spelling words, between two or more persons.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

SPELLING, The art of putting the proper letters in words. 2. It is a rule that when it appears with certainty what is meant, bad Spelling : will not avoid a contract; for example, where a man agreed to pay thirty pounds, he was held bound to pay thirty pounds; and sentence was holden to be seventeen. Cro. Jac. 607; 10 Coke, 133, a; 2 Roll. Ab. 147. 3. Even in an indictment undertood has been holden as understood. 1 Chit. Cr. Law. 4. A misspelling of a name in a declaration, will not be sufficient to defeat the plaintiff, on the ground of variance between the writing produced, and the declaration, if such name be idem sonans; as Kay for Key. 16 East, 110; 2 Stark. 29; Segrave for Seagrave. 2 Str. 889. See Idem Sonans.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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