Obs. [f. SPELL v.1] Speaking, talking, discourse, utterance.

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  In OE. esp. ‘idle or unprofitable talk.’

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom. (Thorpe), I. 180. Forbuʓað idele spellunge, and dyslice blissa.

3

c. 1030.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 83. Idelnesse oððe spellingum [L. otioso aut fabulis].

4

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 64. Spellunge & smecchunge beoð ine muðe boðe;… we schulen … speken nu of spellunge.

5

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19951. Petre þam said o spelling þan O baptising þat iohn bigan.

6

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 263. So that with spellinge of hir charmes Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes.

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