Post by ♣ miss orif on Aug 8, 2008 8:33:52 GMT
A
Accio (Summoning Charm)
Pronunciation: Various suggestions have been made, including:
['ɑkkio] (AK-ee-o) - classical Latin (film, video game)
['ɑksio] (AK-see-o) - (audio book)
['æsio] (AH-see-o) - (Scholastic) English
Description: This charm summons an object to the caster, potentially over a significant distance.
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when it was briefly used by Molly Weasley on the Weasley twins to confiscate their Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' products from their pockets, before they left for the Quidditch World Cup. Later on in the same book, Harry summons his broom to complete the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Near the end of the book, Harry summons a Portkey he can't reach to escape from the Battle in the Graveyard. Also seen in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows to try to summon Horcruxes, and Harry even tries to summon a falling Rubeus Hagrid.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word accio means "I call" or "I summon". In the Hungarian translation, the spell is called "Invito", possibly from the word "to invite".
(Age-Line Spell)
Description: Creates a line that is impassable by people below a set age.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire, Albus Dumbledore cast this spell to stop underage students from placing their names into the Goblet of Fire.
Notes: Fred and George Weasley, along with several other students made failed attempts to (though underage) pass the line using age potions. Fred and George claimed that this was the ultimate potion, but when they attempted to cross the line, it resulted in growing white beards.
Aguamenti (Aguamenti Charm)
Pronunciation: AH-gwa-MEN-tee (IPA: /a.gwə.'mɛn.ti/)
Description: Produces a jet of water from the caster's wand.
Seen/Mentioned: First named in Half-Blood Prince, when Harry is being taught how to perform this specific charm in professor Flitwick's class. Later Harry casts this spell in an attempt to create water for Dumbledore to drink after taking Voldemort's potion and then to douse Hagrid's hut after it is set on fire later. Then in Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger uses it to put out Mundungus' searing eyebrows after Harry accidentally set them on fire. Later on, Harry uses it in a failed attempt to douse Vincent Crabbe's Fiendfyre curse in the Room of Requirement.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word aqua which has morphed into modern languages like Portuguese as água which means "water", combined with a form of the Latin verb mentio which means to "speak, mention, or proclaim".
Alohomora
Pronunciation: ah-LOH-huh-MOR-ah (IPA: /ə'lo.həˌmo.ɹə/)
Description: Used to open and unlock doors, but doors may be bewitched so that this spell has no effect.
Seen/Mentioned: Used throughout the series, first use by Hermione in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Later unsuccessfully cast by Ron, on the door from the room with the winged keys in Hogwarts. Loses use gradually in the series as the characters discover more and more doors, chests etc. with counter-charms on them (e.g. The doors into Professor Snape's and Professor Umbridge's offices are mentioned as being Alohomora-proof.)
Etymology: From the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy meaning: Friendly to thieves as stated by J.K. Rowling in testimony during the WB and JKR vs. RDR Books.
Anapneo
Pronunciation: ah-NAP-nee-oh (IPA: /ə.'næp.ni.əʊ/)
Description: Clears the target's airway, if blocked.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown in Half-Blood Prince, Horace Slughorn casts this spell on Marcus Belby when the latter begins to choke.
Suggested Etymology: The Greek word anapneo which means "to draw breath or to revive".
(Anti-Cheating Spell)
Description: Cast on parchment or quills to prevent the writer from cheating while writing answers.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as being cast on quills and exam papers for exams at Hogwarts.
(Anti-Disapparation Jinx)
Description: Used to prevent Disapparation in an area for a time. Presumably can be used to prevent an enemy from entering a defended area, or used to trap an enemy in an area.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Order of the Phoenix, used by Dumbledore to trap several Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Also, cast long ago on Hogwarts, the reason why (As Hermione quotes innumerable times throughout the series) "No one can Apparate or Disapparate inside the Hogwarts grounds." In Deathly Hallows, Death Eaters had cast this spell, preventing the trio from escaping Hogsmeade.
(Antonin Dolohov's Curse)
Description: This curse causes serious internal injury, but does not show any external symptoms. It is described as cast with "a slashing motion", sending out a streak of purple flames.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Order of the Phoenix, this spell is cast three times by Antonin Dolohov during the battle between the Death Eaters and members of Dumbledore's Army at the Ministry of Magic. All three times it is shown cast non-verbally, although one time this was due to Dolohov having previously been hit by the Silencing Charm and hence unable to speak.
Aparecium
Pronunciation: AH-par-EE-see-um (IPA: /æ.pə'ɹi.si.ʌm/)
Description: This spell makes invisible ink appear.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Hermione tries to make hidden writing appear in Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary.
Notes: See also Specialis Revelio.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word appareo which means "to become visible or to appear".
(Atmospheric Charm)
Description: Presumably causes weather patterns to be created.
Seen/Mentioned: It was said in Deathly Hallows that a malfunction of this spell may have been causing offices in the Ministry to rain.
Avada Kedavra (Killing Curse)
Pronunciation: ah-VAH-dah kuh-DAHV-rah (IPA: /ə.'væ.də kə.'dæv.ɹə/)
Description: Causes a bright green flash and a rushing noise; the curse causes instant death to the victim. There is no known counter-curse or blocking spell (with the exception of the curse striking another spell midflight, negating both), although the caster can be interrupted, the victim can dodge the green jet, hide behind solid objects (which burst into flame when hit by it), or, if the casting wizard is not sufficiently competent, the curse may be completely ineffective as described by Barty Crouch Jr (acting as Alastor Moody) in Goblet of Fire. Harry twice countered this spell by casting Expelliarmus. It is one of the three Unforgivable Curses; the use of this spell on another human being renders a life sentence in Azkaban.
Certain magical conditions have also been documented to defeat the curse, even on a direct hit:
Harry Potter was given magical protection against Lord Voldemort's use of the curse, when his mother sacrificed herself to save him.
Harry is saved by the twin cores effect between his wand and Voldemort's during a duel, as well as during a battle. During this battle, Harry's phoenix feather wand snaps the wand Voldemort borrowed from one of his servants, Lucius Malfoy. The reason for this is unknown. Dumbledore believes this feat to be due to the unique connections and relationships between the two duellists, which are complex and are "realms of magic hitherto unknown".
In Deathly Hallows, Harry is saved twice. The first time because when Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a baby, a piece of Voldemort's soul flaked off and was trapped within Harry himself (giving Harry a connection to, and many of the powers of, Voldemort). When the killing curse hit Harry in the Forbidden Forest, it killed the piece of Voldemort's soul trapped in Harry, and sent Harry to a nether region where Voldemort's use of Harry's blood gave Harry a lifeline back to the world of the living, should he choose to use it, and he decided to return to life. The second time, Harry was able to deflect the curse back at Voldemort (who died from it) because of a special condition involving the Elder Wand. This had been 'won' by Draco when he disarmed Dumbledore of his wand, but none understood this at the time, and Draco did not use the Elder Wand. Subsequently, Harry had won Draco's wand in a life-or-death duel, thereby proving to the Elder Wand that Harry should be the wand's true master. Therefore, when Harry used Draco's wand to cast Expelliarmus against Voldemort's killing curse, the killing curse rebounded on Voldemort leaving Harry unharmed.
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned (not by name) at the beginning of the first book when Harry arrives to the Dursley's home. First seen in Goblet of Fire against Muggle Frank Bryce, and in every book following.
Suggested Etymology: During an audience interview at the Edinburgh Book Festival (15 August 2004) Rowling said: "Does anyone know where avada kedavra came from? It is an ancient spell in Aramaic, and it is the original of abracadabra, which means 'let the thing be destroyed.' Originally, it was used to cure illness and the 'thing' was the illness, but I decided to make it the 'thing' as in the person standing in front of me. I take a lot of liberties with things like that. I twist them round and make them mine."
Avis
Pronunciation: AH-vis (IPA: /a'vɪs/)
Description: This charm creates a flock of birds that pour forth from the caster's wand. When coupled with Oppugno, it can be used offensively.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown in Goblet of Fire, cast by Mr Ollivander to test Viktor Krum's wand. In Half-blood Prince, it is cast by Hermione, followed by Oppugno which causes the birds to attack Ron Weasley.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word avis which means, "bird".
B
(Banishing Charm)
Description: Opposite to "Accio".
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in Goblet of Fire, cast by Hermione who perfectly banishes a cushion into a box which is their target in their Charms class. To Harry's great surprise, he also perfectly banishes a cushion during this lesson.
(Bat-Bogey Hex)
Description: Grotesquely enlarges the target's bogeys, gives them wings, and sets them attacking the target.
Seen/Mentioned: Ginny Weasley is depicted as an accomplished caster of this particular spell. She is shown to use it in Order of the Phoenix on Draco Malfoy, and in Half-Blood Prince on Zacharias Smith.
(Bedazzling Hex)
Description: Similar to a Disillusionment Charm, it can be used to conceal a person or an object. Is also used to make invisibility cloaks.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Deathly Hallows by Xenophilius Lovegood when speaking of the different methods by which Invisibility Cloaks may be created.
(Bubble-Head Charm)
Description: Puts a large bubble of air around the head of the user. Used as a magical equivalent of a breathing set.
Seen/Mentioned: in Goblet of Fire, Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour use this charm underwater in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament. In Order of the Phoenix, it is described as used by many Hogwarts students when walking through the hallways, because of the bad smells caused by the various pranks played on Dolores Umbridge.
C
(Caterwauling Charm)
Description: Anyone entering the perimeter of a Caterwauling Charm sets off a high-pitched shriek.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Deathly Hallows, cast by Death Eaters over Hogsmeade to protect against intruders.
Note: Similar to an intruder charm: they both produce an alarm if the vicinity is disturbed.
Cave Inimicum
Pronunciation: KAH-vay ih-NIH-mih-kum (IPA: /ˈkæ.ve ɪ.ˈnɪ.mɪ.kʌm/)
Description: Spell used to strengthen an enclosure from enemies.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown only in Deathly Hallows, cast by Hermione and Harry Potter to strengthen their campsites' defences.
Etymology: Correct Classical Latin for "Beware the enemy", from the verb caveo and the noun inimicus.
(Cheering Charm)
Description: Causes the person upon whom the spell was cast to become happy and contented, though heavy-handedness with the spell may cause the person to break into an uncontrollable laughing fit.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Colloportus
Pronunciation: cul-loh-POR-tus (IPA: /kɔ.lo.ˈpɔ˞.təs/)
Description: Magically locks a door, preventing it from being opened by Muggle means.
Seen/Mentioned: First in Order of the Phoenix, cast by Hermione in the Department of Mysteries.
Notes: This spell functions as the counter spell to Alohomora
Suggested Etymology: The Greek word kollao which means, "to join closely together, bind closely" with the Latin word porta meaning "a gate".
(Colour-Change Charm)
Description: Changes an object's colour.
Seen/Mentioned: Attempted by Ron on initial trip to Hogwarts; Mentioned in Harry's Ordinary Wizarding Levels in Order of the Phoenix.
Confringo (Blasting Curse)
Pronunciation: con-FRIN-goh (hard "g") or con-FRIN-joh (IPA: /kʌn.ˈfɹɪŋ.gəʊ/ or /kʌn.ˈfɹɪn.dʒəʊ/)
Description: Causes anything that the spell meets to explode.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Deathly Hallows. In the opening chapters, it is cast by Harry to destroy the sidecar of the flying motorbike. Later, it is used by Hermione in an attempt to kill Nagini and facilitate an escape from Bathilda Bagshot's house in Godric's Hollow.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word confringo which means, "to break in pieces, to bring to naught".
Confundo (Confundus Charm)
Pronunciation: con-FUN-doh (IPA: /kʌn.ˈfʌn.dəʊ/)
Description: Causes the victim to become confused and befuddled.
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in Prisoner of Azkaban, when Severus Snape suggests that Harry and Hermione had been Confunded to believe Sirius Black's claim to innocence. In Goblet of Fire, it is suggested that a powerful Confundus Charm is responsible for the Goblet choosing a fourth Triwizard contestant. It is first seen in action when Hermione uses it on Cormac McLaggen during Quidditch tryouts in Half-Blood Prince. Its vernacular name is first revealed when Harry uses it on security guards during the Gringotts break-in in Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word confundo which means, "to confuse, throw into disorder".
(Conjunctivitus Curse)
Description: A curse that causes great pain to the victim's eyes.
Seen/Mentioned: It is suggested by Sirius in Goblet of Fire as a means for defeating a dragon for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, and used by Krum for this purpose. Mentioned in Order of the Phoenix as cast by Madame Maxime against giants.
Crucio (Cruciatus Curse)
Cruciatus redirects here. For the ligaments in the knee, see Cruciate ligament.
Pronunciation: KROO-see-oh/KROO-shee-OH (IPA: /ˈkɹu.si.əʊ/)
Description: Inflicts unbearable pain on the recipient of the curse. The effects of the curse depend upon the desires and emotions of the character - to produce the "excruciating" pain implied by the name, one must (according to Bellatrix Lestrange) desire to cause pain purely for its own sake. The extreme pain inflicted by the curse when cast so - without any apparent evidence of physical harm - makes it uniquely suited as a form of torture. One of the three Unforgivable Curses.
Seen/Mentioned: first seen in Goblet of Fire introduced by Barty Crouch Jr (acting as Moody) and used on a spider. Used regularly by the Death Eaters as torture, and by Voldemort as punishment, even against his servants. Used twice by Harry on Death Eaters.
Suggested Etymology: Crucio (Latin) means "I torture" originating from crux (genitive crucis), which means "torture platform or stake" or, more specifically "cross". The word excruciating is descended from the same root - crucifixion was a form of torturous execution. In the novels, the verbal form of the word is 'cruciate', as when Amycus Carrow says in the final book "I’ll Cruciate the lot of ’em."
(Cushioning Charm)
Description: Creates an invisible cushioned area.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages, cast on broomsticks to provide a more comfortable ride. Shown in Deathly Hallows, used to cushion Harry, Ron, and Hermione's fall in Gringotts and Hogwarts.