to cast a spell over

[AlexOm]

Hello!
In these words, what should "cast" mean?

I think, if spell is an incantation (words), cast would mean "tell"
If spell is a magic, cast would be the same as "use".

What is better for an English mind?

[Neillythere]

I'm a Brit, but not a teacher.

"Cast" literally means "throw" and you could say "throw a spell", although "cast" is more common.

In British children's "fairytales" a wicked, wizened old witch will regularly "cast a spell" (i.e. a curse) on a beautiful young lady, who she despises because she is more beautiful than herself.

The spell would make the young lady go asleep for, say, 100 years, or until she were awakened by a handsome prince's kiss and they live happily ever after!

Other versions have a prince who is turned into a frog, until a fair young lady changes him back, with a kiss!

AskOxford: wizened

wizened

/wizz’nd/ • adjective shrivelled or wrinkled with age.

[David L.]

In fairy tales, evil witches have magic. They obviously do not use this magic to put everyone to sleep, or turn into a frog. In the story, it is a special person, like a prince or a princess. So the witch uses this magic and causes it to have some bad effect (like turning into a frog) just on them. This 'causing the magic to work on someone' is what 'caste a spell on' means.

[AlexOm]

So, "spell" is rather a magic power than words?

[beascarpetta]

Originally Posted by AlexOm

So, "spell" is rather a magic power than words?

either spoken words that are supposed to have magical powers or the condition they bring about

The witch cast/put a spell on the prince and he turned into a frog.

Sleeping Beauty lay under the wicked fairy's spell until the prince woke her with a kiss.


hope this helped.

[AlexOm]

Originally Posted by beascarpetta

hope this helped.

not at all

Well, is "to cast a spell" a verbal or a non-verbal action?
I mean, can it be a consequence| an expression of a non-verbal power? Or if someone casts something such as spell, he casts words, utterances, verses mutely or aloud but not a stream of energy?