ward off evil spirits

[quietdandelion]

Being superstitious, Kate brings a charm with her wherever she goes to ward off evil spirits.





For a start, could I use "spell" to replace "charm" without changing its meaning.
Second, does "ward off" mean "avoid passively" or "resist actively?" Thanks.

 

[David]

ward off means protect oneself from, place obstacles in the path of

a charm I think might be a spell and also might be a physical object, whereas a spell would be only something one said or wrote or the effect of some charm...

In the stories, the cross held aloft is a charm to ward off vampires, whereas "her beauty cast a spell on me."

 

[quietdandelion]

Thanks, David.

 

[David]

Bu kechi, bu kechi.

 

[quietdandelion]

Your Chinese amazes me!
Ni how ou li mo!

 

[JamesM]

ward off means protect oneself from, place obstacles in the path of

a charm I think might be a spell and also might be a physical object, whereas a spell would be only something one said or wrote or the effect of some charm...

In the stories, the cross held aloft is a charm to ward off vampires, whereas "her beauty cast a spell on me."

Can a charm be a spoken spell? I've only known it as an object of some kind.

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

A "charm" would work better than "spell". A "spell" is words, usually said aloud (a cognate, by the way, is the word "Gospel"; = god spel, or good news in modern English.) A charm, though, can be an object such as an amulet, and it makes more sense when used with "bring".