spell
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spell noun An indefinite, but usually short period of time or weather.
1864 Odell CW Letters (Aug 30) I am sorry to say that Tommie has had quite a severe spell. 1913 Kephart Our Sthn High 296 Spell is used in the sense of while (“a good spell atterward") and soon for early (“a soon start in the morning"). 1939 Hall Coll (Cataloochee CCC Camp NC) I went to Tempico School for a spell. 1966 Hall Coll (F. Metcalf, Del Rio TN) Maybe sometime you could come and spend a spell with us, as I am still at the old home place. 1988 Russell It Happened 36 Other expressions that I remember are ... “Come in and set a spell.”