Charm, Spell, Hex, Jinx

[Meg]

No: HPFGUIDX 65855

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hainuwele" <hainuwele at g...> 
wrote:
> Hello everybody!
> 
> My sister and I had this discussion last night, and it turned out 
> that we (having English as a second language) cannot really put a 
> finger on the differences between or exact definitions of the 
> terms "spell", "charm", "hex" and "jinx" as used in HP. 
> 
> Could anyone please explain this? Or, if it has been discussed 
> before, point me to the explaining message(s)?
> 
> Thanks a lot, and have a nice week everyone. :-)
> 
> hainuwele

Hey guys!  Long time no see!  {Creeps out of a year or so of 
hiding...}

Well, since no one has posted to this thread yet I figured I'd give 
it a stab...  Let's see...

Spell is pretty much a generic term describing any magical 
incantation, whereas a charm, as quoted from the Merriam-Webster 
dictionary is "an act or expression believed to have magical power."  
Hm...  the differences there seem to be very subtle - I suppose 
charms can include actions and spells don't?

Hex and jinx usually have negative connotations, usually referring to 
cursing someone.  Again, from the dictionary...  Hex: "Spell, jinx."  
Haha ok, well, go figure.  Jinx:  "To doom to failure or 
misfortune."  

Well, I don't know if that helps any...  To be perfectly honest, the 
first two are basically synonyms as are the last two, it's just that 
jinx and hex are negative.

~Chicky~