spelt

Everyday

1. Wrote or said the letters of a word in the right order. tree →
2. Was the letters of a word, as in «c-a-t spelt cat». tree →
3. (informal) Meant or caused, as in «the rain spelt trouble for the picnic». tree →
4. A kind of old wheat grain used to make flour and bread. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons and spelling tests pupils are asked how a word is spelt. «Spelt» is the usual British form; American English mostly uses «spelled». In cooking, spelt flour is used in some breads. «Spelt out» means explained very clearly. Phrases: «spelt wrong», «spelt correctly», «spelt out», «spelt disaster», «spelt flour».

Examples

• I spelt «necessary» wrong in my spelling test. tree →
• How is your name spelt? tree →
• The teacher spelt out the rules very clearly. tree →
• The dark clouds spelt trouble for the sports day. tree →
• Is «colour» spelt with a «u» in Australia? Yes. tree →
• Dad bakes bread with spelt flour. tree →
• She spelt every word correctly and got full marks. tree →
• The letters on the fridge spelt «HELLO». tree →
• Why, the words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. tree →

Note

Both «spelt» and «spelled» are correct; British, Irish, Australian and NZ writers often use «spelt», Americans «spelled». As a grain, «spelt» is uncountable. A pupil should keep one form in a piece of writing.

In Jewish tradition

Spelt is an old kind of wheat that ripens late. In the Torah it was not harmed by the hail in Egypt.

Interpretation. Tradition says the late-ripening crops survived the plague of hail because they were still soft and low to the ground.

Examples

• But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten; for they ripen late. — (Torah EXO.9.32, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Both «spelt» and «spelled» are correct; British, Irish, Australian and NZ writers often use «spelt», Americans «spelled». As a grain, «spelt» is uncountable. A pupil should keep one form in a piece of writing.