[HPforGrownups] Re: Charm, Spell, Hex, Jinx

[sharana.geo]

No: HPFGUIDX 65981

hainuwele 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.

To which ~Chicky~ responded:
> 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.

Me:

I've looked up the meanings in 2 Oxford Dictionaries:
a.- Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English, 1974
b.- Oxford Advanced Learner's Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1992

Spell:
Words used as a charm, supposed to have magic power (a and b say 
more or less the same)

Charm:
Believed to have magic power (a)
Object worn because it is believed to bring good luck(a and b)

Hex:
Magic spell, especially one causing harm (b)

Jinx
Person or thing that brings bad luck.(a and b)


I agree with Chickey in that "Spell" is the generic word. 

Even though the Dictionaries say that "Charm" can refer 
to "good"(helpful, positive) or "bad" (hurtful, negative) spells, I 
believe it is generally used for the good ones, when you say "You 
look charming" you usually mean "you look very nice". 

To refer to the "bad" spells you usually refer to a Hex. "I'll put a 
Hex on you" means I'm wishing you very bad stuff.

A Jinx seems to refer to a person who has bad luck. "He's jinxed" 
means that person has bad luck or every thing he tries to do comes 
out wrong.

I hope this helps you, English is my second language too, my mother 
language is Spanish, so if your mother language is also Spanish and 
you are still confused, contact me: sharana.geo at yahoo.com

Sharana