Spell vs. Special — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Spell and Special
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Compare with Definitions
Spell
To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word).
Special
Surpassing what is common or usual; exceptional
A special occasion.
A special treat.
Spell
To constitute the letters of (a word)
These letters spell animal.
Special
Distinct among others of a kind
A special type of paint.
A special medication for arthritis.
Spell
To add up to; signify
Their unwise investment could spell financial ruin.
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Special
Primary
His special satisfaction comes from volunteer work.
Spell
To name or write in order the letters of a word or words
I've never been able to spell very well.
Special
Peculiar to a specific person or thing; particular
My own special chair.
The special features of a computer.
Spell
To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch.
Special
Having a limited or specific function, application, or scope
A special role in the mission.
Spell
To relieve (someone) from work temporarily by taking a turn.
Special
Arranged for a particular occasion or purpose
A special visit from her daughter.
Spell
To allow (someone) to rest a while.
Special
Regarded with particular affection and admiration
A special friend.
Spell
To take turns working.
Special
Additional; extra
A special holiday flight.
Spell
(Australian) To rest for a time from an activity.
Special
Something arranged, issued, or appropriated to a particular service or occasion
Rode to work on the commuter special.
Spell
A word or formula believed to have magic power.
Special
A featured attraction, such as a reduced price
A special on salmon.
Spell
A bewitched state or trance
The sorcerer put the prince under a spell.
Special
A single television production that features a specific work, a given topic, or a particular performer.
Spell
A compelling attraction; charm or fascination
The spell of the theater.
Special
Distinguished by a unique or unusual quality.
A special episode of a television series
Spell
A short, indefinite period of time.
Special
Of particular personal interest or value; dear; beloved.
Everyone is special to someone.
Spell
(Informal) A period of weather of a particular kind
A dry spell.
Special
(euphemistic) Of or related to disabilities, especially learning or intellectual disabilities.
Special education, special needs
He goes to a special school.
Spell
One's turn at work.
Special
Constituting or relating to a species.
Spell
A period of work; a shift.
Special
Chief in excellence.
Spell
(Australian) A period of rest.
Special
(military) Of or related to unconventional warfare.
Special forces, special operations
Spell
(Informal) A period of physical or mental disorder or distress
A dizzy spell.
Special
A reduction in consumer cost (usually for a limited time) for items or services rendered.
We're running a special on turkey for Thanksgiving.
Spell
(Informal) A short distance.
Special
One of a rotation of meals systematically offered for a lower price at a restaurant.
Today's special is our tuna melt on rye.
Spell
Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
He cast a spell to cure warts.
Special
(broadcasting) Unusual or exceptional episode of a series.
Did you see the Christmas special?
Spell
A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
Under a spell
Special
A special constable.
Spell
(obsolete) Speech, discourse.
Special
Anything that is not according to normal practice, plan, or schedule, as an unscheduled run of transportation that is normally scheduled.
Thousands came to see the special that carried the President's coffin.
Spell
A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour.
Special
Any unlicensed medicine produced or obtained for a specific individual patient.
Spell
(informal) A definite period (of work or other activity).
Special
(journalism) A correspondent; a journalist sent to the scene of an event to report back.
Spell
(colloquial) An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance.
Special
(journalism) A dispatch sent back by a special correspondent.
Spell
A period of rest; time off.
Special
(theater) A light that illuminates a specific person or thing on the stage.
Spell
A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc.
Special
(law) A person appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.
For the few times the U.S. Supreme Court has to actually try a case, they will appoint a special master to do so.
After the Watergate break in, a special prosecutor was appointed.
Spell
(cricket) An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler.
Special
(nursing) To supervise a patient one-on-one.
Spell
(dialectal) A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.
Special
Of or pertaining to a species; constituting a species or sort.
A special is called by the schools a "species".
Spell
The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.
Special
Particular; peculiar; different from others; extraordinary; uncommon.
Our Savior is represented everywhere in Scripture as the special patron of the poor and the afficted.
To this special evil an improvement of style would apply a special redress.
Spell
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
Special
Appropriate; designed for a particular purpose, occasion, or person; as, a special act of Parliament or of Congress; a special sermon.
Spell
To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort.
Special
Limited in range; confined to a definite field of action, investigation, or discussion; as, a special dictionary of commercial terms; a special branch of study.
Spell
To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word.
Special
Chief in excellence.
The king hath drawnThe special head of all the land together.
Spell
(intransitive) To be able to write or say the letters that form words.
I find it difficult to spell because I'm dyslexic.
Special
A particular.
Spell
(transitive) Of letters: to compose (a word).
The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.
Special
One appointed for a special service or occasion.
Spell
To clarify; to explain in detail.
Please spell it out for me.
Special
A special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising;
They are having a special on pork chops
Spell
(transitive) To indicate that (some event) will occur.
This spells trouble.
Special
A dish or meal given prominence in e.g. a restaurant
Spell
To constitute; to measure.
Special
A television production that features a particular person or work or topic;
The last of a series of BBC specials on Iran is being shown tonight
Spell
(obsolete) To speak, to declaim.
Special
Unique or specific to a person or thing or category;
The particular demands of the job
Has a paraticular preference for Chinese art
A peculiar bond of sympathy between them
An expression peculiar to Canadians
Rights peculiar to the rich
The special features of a computer
My own special chair
Spell
(obsolete) To tell; to relate; to teach.
Special
For a special service or occasion;
A special correspondent
A special adviser to the committee
Had to get special permission for the event
Spell
(transitive) To work in place of (someone).
To spell the helmsman
Special
Surpassing what is common or usual or expected;
He paid especial attention to her
Exceptional kindness
A matter of particular and unusual importance
A special occasion
A special reason to confide in her
What's so special about the year 2000?
Spell
(transitive) To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.
They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.
Special
Adapted to or reserved for a particular purpose;
A special kind of paint
A special medication for arthritis
Spell
To rest from work for a time.
Special
Having a specific function or scope;
A special (or specific) role in the mission
Spell
A spelk, or splinter.
Special
First and most important;
His special interest is music
She gets special (or particular) satisfaction from her volunteer work
Spell
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.
A spell at the wheel is called a trick.
Special
Added to a regular schedule;
A special holiday flight
Put on special buses for the big game
Spell
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.
Spell
One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells.
Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells.
Spell
A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell.
Spell
A story; a tale.
Spell
A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.
Start not; her actions shall be holy asYou hear my spell is lawful.
Spell
To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
Spell
To tell; to relate; to teach.
Might I that legend find,By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes.
Spell
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot.
Spell
To constitute; to measure.
The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect.
Spell
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.
Spell
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.
To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident.
Spell
To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing.
When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell,And he a god, who could but read or spell.
Spell
To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study.
Where I may sit and rightly spellOf every star that heaven doth shew,And every herb that sips the dew.
Spell
A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
Spell
A time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else);
It's my go
A spell of work
Spell
A period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition;
He was here for a little while
I need to rest for a piece
A spell of good weather
A patch of bad weather
Spell
A verbal formula believed to have magical force;
He whispered a spell as he moved his hands
Inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese
Spell
Recite the letters of or give the spelling of;
How do you spell this word?
Spell
Indicate or signify;
I'm afraid this spells trouble!
Spell
Write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word);
He spelled the word wrong in this letter
Spell
Place under a spell
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