General Counter-Spell

"Terminates all spell effects"

- Description

The General Counter-Spell (Finite or Finite Incantatem ) is a counter-spell for general use. It may be used in duels to counter or reverse minor damage, such as the effects of minor jinxes and curses. It can also be used on an entire home to (temporarily) stop the effects of protective enchantments, as a precaution before a wizard answers the door. It is taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in second year's Charms class.

It's currently unknown by who or when the counter-spell was invented. This spell is one of the seven covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk.

Nature
The General Counter-Spell terminates all spell effects ranging from simple spells like the Dancing Feet Spell to more complicated spells such as Atmospheric Charms, although it would be probably ineffective against moderate to major Dark spells. For example, the Jelly-Legs Curse needs a specific counter-curse to be performed to end it's effects. It's unknown if there is a difference between Finite and Finite Incantatem in terms of power or usage. It's possible that Finite is simply a more straight forward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell.

Known uses
"He pointed his wand at the rampart, cried, "Finite!" and it steadied."

- Harry uses it counter Vincent Crabbe's spell

Etymology
From Latin finire, meaning "to end", and incantationem, meaning "enchantment". Finite means 'end' (imperative).

Behind the scenes

 * This spell is included in the application for the iPhone as a counter-attack spell.
 * Hermione suggested in that Ron should try using Finite Incantatem to stop the rain in Yaxley's office.
 * In the books, Nymphadora Tonks unfreezes Harry from the Full Body-Bind Curse with a flash of red light, which is presumably this spell. In the films, Luna Lovegood used "Finite" to unfreeze Harry and cause his Invisibility Cloak to fly off him.

Notes and references
Encantamiento general contrahechizos Antisort Général Lopeti loitsuimes Controincantesimo generico Фенита Finite Incantatem pt-br:Contrafeitiço Geral