French word

sortilège

Pronunciation

IPA/sɔʁtilɛʒ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounspell

Example

Le magicien lance un sortilège.

The magician casts a spell.

Illustration for sortilège (spell)

More examples

Le magicien a lancé un sortilège sur la forêt.

The magician cast a spell on the forest.

Core concept

A spoken formula that directs an unseen magical force at a person or object.

Common phrases

  • lancer un sortilège

    cast a spell

  • être sous le sortilège

    be under a spell

Similar words

magie: The power or workings of the supernatural.
incantation: Words or phrases recited to bring about a magical result.

Definition in French

Formule ou parole prononcée pour produire un effet magique visant à enchanter, protéger ou nuire.

Word origin

Sortilège comes through Old French sortilege from Latin sortilegium, a divination by lots, built from sors, 'fate', and legere, 'to read'.

Usage tips

  • Sortilège is masculine, so the usual article is un: un sortilège.

Other meanings

  • charmnoun
  • enchantmentnoun

Opposites

  • contre-sortcounterspellnoun

Word lists with this word