"spellen" meaning in Middle English

See spellen in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˈspɛlən/, /ˈspɛliən/
Etymology: From Early Middle English spellien, both the reflex of Old English spellian as well as the form under which Old French espeler (from Frankish *spellōn) was borrowed. The form spellen originally emerged in East Midland and Northern dialects following the syncope of this verb’s medial vowel. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|spellian}} Old English spellian, {{bor|enm|fro|espeler}} Old French espeler, {{der|enm|frk|*spellōn}} Frankish *spellōn Head templates: {{head|enm|verb}} spellen Inflection templates: {{enm-conj-wk|spell|p_1s=spellede|p_1s2=spelled|p_1s3=spelde|p_2s=spelledest|p_p=spelleden|p_p2=spellede|p_p3=spelled|p_p4=spelde|p_part=spelled|p_part2=ispelled|p_part3=ispeled|p_part4=yspelled|p_sub=spellede|p_sub2=spelled|p_sub3=spelde|y=0}} Forms: weak [table-tags], spellen [infinitive], to spellen [infinitive], spelle [infinitive], spelle [first-person, present, singular], spellede [first-person, past, singular], spelled [first-person, past, singular], spelde [first-person, past, singular], spellest [present, second-person, singular], spelledest [past, second-person, singular], spelleth [present, singular, third-person], spellede [past, singular, third-person], spelled [past, singular, third-person], spelde [past, singular, third-person], spelle [present, singular, subjunctive], spellede [past, singular, subjunctive], spelled [past, singular, subjunctive], spelde [past, singular, subjunctive], spelle [imperative, present, singular], - [imperative, past, singular], spellen [plural, present], spelle [plural, present], spelleden [past, plural], spellede [past, plural], spelled [past, plural], spelde [past, plural], spelleth [imperative, plural, present], spelle [imperative, plural, present], - [imperative, past, plural], spellynge [participle, present], spellende [participle, present], spelled [participle, past], ispelled [participle, past], ispeled [participle, past], yspelled [participle, past], spelien [alternative], spellien [alternative], spele [alternative], spelen [alternative]
  1. To tell, speak, declare, or preach.
    Sense id: en-spellen-enm-verb-35xHXpnV Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10
  2. To read out letter by letter; to spell.
    Sense id: en-spellen-enm-verb-dS6LTpAT Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 11 5 8 10 9 8 9 33 8 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10
  3. To mean, signify, or betoken.
    Sense id: en-spellen-enm-verb-vfNSJYI1 Categories (other): Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10
     
{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "spell"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "spell"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "spellian"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English spellian",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "espeler"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French espeler",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frk",
        "3": "*spellōn"
      },
      "expansion": "Frankish *spellōn",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Early Middle English spellien, both the reflex of Old English spellian as well as the form under which Old French espeler (from Frankish *spellōn) was borrowed. The form spellen originally emerged in East Midland and Northern dialects following the syncope of this verb’s medial vowel.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "weak",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "enm-conj-wk",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "to spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelledest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleden",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellynge",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellende",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ispelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ispeled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "yspelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelien",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellien",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spele",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelen",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "spellen",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "spell",
        "p_1s": "spellede",
        "p_1s2": "spelled",
        "p_1s3": "spelde",
        "p_2s": "spelledest",
        "p_p": "spelleden",
        "p_p2": "spellede",
        "p_p3": "spelled",
        "p_p4": "spelde",
        "p_part": "spelled",
        "p_part2": "ispelled",
        "p_part3": "ispeled",
        "p_part4": "yspelled",
        "p_sub": "spellede",
        "p_sub2": "spelled",
        "p_sub3": "spelde",
        "y": "0"
      },
      "name": "enm-conj-wk"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To tell, speak, declare, or preach."
      ],
      "id": "en-spellen-enm-verb-35xHXpnV"
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "11 5 8 10 9 8 9 33 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To read out letter by letter; to spell."
      ],
      "id": "en-spellen-enm-verb-dS6LTpAT"
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 7 10 13 10 10 12 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To mean, signify, or betoken."
      ],
      "id": "en-spellen-enm-verb-vfNSJYI1"
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛlən/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛliən/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "spellen"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Frankish",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English verbs",
    "Middle English weak verbs",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "spell"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "spell"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "spellian"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English spellian",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "espeler"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French espeler",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frk",
        "3": "*spellōn"
      },
      "expansion": "Frankish *spellōn",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Early Middle English spellien, both the reflex of Old English spellian as well as the form under which Old French espeler (from Frankish *spellōn) was borrowed. The form spellen originally emerged in East Midland and Northern dialects following the syncope of this verb’s medial vowel.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "weak",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "enm-conj-wk",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "to spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "infinitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "first-person",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelledest",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "second-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "singular",
        "subjunctive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "present",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellen",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleden",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellede",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelde",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelleth",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelle",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "plural",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "-",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "imperative",
        "past",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellynge",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellende",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ispelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "ispeled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "yspelled",
      "source": "conjugation",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelien",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spellien",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spele",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "spelen",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "spellen",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "spell",
        "p_1s": "spellede",
        "p_1s2": "spelled",
        "p_1s3": "spelde",
        "p_2s": "spelledest",
        "p_p": "spelleden",
        "p_p2": "spellede",
        "p_p3": "spelled",
        "p_p4": "spelde",
        "p_part": "spelled",
        "p_part2": "ispelled",
        "p_part3": "ispeled",
        "p_part4": "yspelled",
        "p_sub": "spellede",
        "p_sub2": "spelled",
        "p_sub3": "spelde",
        "y": "0"
      },
      "name": "enm-conj-wk"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To tell, speak, declare, or preach."
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To read out letter by letter; to spell."
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To mean, signify, or betoken."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛlən/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈspɛliən/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "spellen"
}

Download raw JSONL data for spellen meaning in Middle English (5.1kB)

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-07 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (e79dea5 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.