Incantations vs. spells

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 97318

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...>
wrote:
> I've recently noticed several people using the term "incantation" as
> synonymous with "spell." My perception is that an incantation is not
> a one- or two-word command like "lumos!" or "wingardium leviosa!"
> but a chant that's spoken or sung as a kind of ritual, often but not 
> always as part of the making of a complex potion. ...edited...
> 
> Does anyone else agree with me that this is the proper sense of the
> word "incantation" and that everything else we've seen so far, from
> Reparo to Avada Kedavra, is just a spell (regardless of whether it's
> a charm, a jinx, a hex, or a curse)? And can anyone point to a 
> passage where the word "incantation" is actually used in the HP 
> books? 
> ...edited...
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Carol, who hopes she's not making a mountain out of a molehill

bboy_mn:

While you are correct that one of several formal definition of
'incantation' imply an act more like chanting; long sustained
ritualized speech, in the HP world, I think incantations are the
magical words that are spoken (whether long or short), and spells are
what result from speaking those words.

I have an old post where I define the various words related to magic. 

Oops, lucky me, I found the link, although I certainly didn't find it
using Yahoo Search.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/71220

'Spell' is a very broad all encompassing word. A curse is also a spell
as is a jinx, a hex, and a charm. To some extent it refers to all
magic that is cast, and 'cast' magic is most often any magic created
using a wand. Although, it is not limited to wand magic, that's just
the dominant example.

I'm not sure that I recall the word 'incantation' actually being used
in the book. Maybe someone who has one of the electronic verions of
the books, that, of course, none of us actually have since they are
probably illegal, could search for the word.

For reference- (America Heritage 3rd Edition)
Incantation:
1. Ritual recitation of verbal charms or spells to produce a magic
effect. 2.a. A formula used in ritual recitation; a verbal charm or spell.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn