To enchant or cast a spell on; to bewitch or place under a magical spell.
From 'be-' (to make or cover) plus 'spell' (a magical incantation). 'Spell' comes from Old English 'spel' (a story or saying), which evolved to mean magical words. The be- prefix intensifies or causes the action.
The word 'spell' originally meant 'story' (as in 'tale'), and only later came to mean magic—this semantic shift reflects how medieval people associated stories with power, a belief embedded in words like 'bespell' and the very concept of 'spellbinding.'
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