incantation

/ˌɪnˈkænˈteɪʃən/in-KAN-TAY-shuhn

/ˌɪnˈkænˈteɪʃən/in-KAN-TAY-shuhn

Meaningsing a charm

Common meaning: words spoken or sung as a magic spell

incantationsing a charmSkeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), p. 286 · scan

Journey through time

Latinincantare‘sing a charm’source
Middle Englishmeaning shiftssing a charm → spellincantacion‘spell’source
Englishincantation‘words spoken or sung as a magic spell’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin incantare ‘sing a charm’.

Roots

incantare Latin “to repeat a chant”

Related words

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