Description: Summoned an object towards the caster. It was able to summon objects in direct line of sight of the caster, as well as things out of view, by calling the object aloud after the incantation (unless the spell is cast nonverbally). This spell needed thought behind it, and the object had to be clear in the caster's mind before they tried to summon it.[2] The caster did not necessarily need to know the location of the target as long as they say the name of the object to be summoned, such as when Hermione Granger summoned some books from Dumbledore's office simply by saying "Accio Horcrux books!" while in Gryffindor Tower.
Etymology: The Latin word accio means "I call" or "I summon".
Notes: The Summoning Charm was unable to directly summon exceptionally large targets such as buildings, or living creatures (except for Flobberworms which wasn't considered to be worth summoning). It was, however, possible to move a creature by summoning things they are wearing or holding. It is also possible to bewitch items to become unaffected from this charm, as is the case with most bought goods.
Description: Prevented people above or below a certain age from access to a target.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Albus Dumbledore to prevent underage students from entering their names into the Goblet of Fire. Also seen when Fred and George Weasley attempted to circumvent it with Ageing Potions, and ended up in the Hospital Wing with fine white beards, along with other students who tried similar tactics.[3]
Etymology:Ascendere is a Latin infinitive meaning "to go up,""to climb," "to embark," "to rise(figuratively);" this is the origin of the English word "ascend".
Description: Unlocked doors and other locked objects.[7] It could also unlock doors that had been sealed with a Locking Spell, although it was possible to bewitch doors to become unaffected by this spell.
Description: Part of the process of becoming an Animagus. The incantation had to be recited at sunrise and sundown, every day before the consumption of the Animagus Potion. The incantation was also recited just prior to the consumption of the potion, which had to take place just after a lightning storm started. The incantation was recited while placing the wand's tip over one's heart.
Etymology: Amato is a conjugation of the Latin word amo, which means "I love" or "I am obliged to". Animo and animato are both different conjugations of the Latin word animo, which can mean "I animate" or "I fill with breath or life". Animagus on the other hand appears to be a portmanteau of animo or "animal", and magus, which is Latin for "wizard".[citation needed] Overall, the incantation can roughly mean "My love brings me life, I am obliged to become an animal wizard."
Seen/Mentioned: These spells were used at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on writing quills and parchment to prevent students from cheating during their final exams, as well as their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.
Description: Magically teleported a witch or wizard to another location instantly. The destination is one that the primary user has been to or seen in some fashion previously. Can be used to Apparate two or more people at once if holding onto each other (i.e. Side-Along Apparition). No incantation required.
Seen/Mentioned: Used frequently by Wizardkind to teleport from place to place.
Description: Decreased the velocity of a moving target. Could be used on multiple targets, as well as on the caster themselves. It was invented by Daisy Pennifold in 1711 for use on the Quaffle in Quidditch.
Etymology: Likely the combination of the Anglo-Frencharester, meaning "to bring to a stop" and the Latin momentum, meaning "the force or strength gained whilst moving"; the literal translation hence is "Bring the force or strength gained whilst moving to a stop".
Seen/Mentioned: The spell used to be used by Appleby Arrows supporters at Quidditch matches to show their support for their teams; however, the British and Irish Quidditch League banned the use of the spell at matches when referee Nugent Potts was pierced through the nose with a stray arrow in 1894.
Description: Caused instantaneous and painless death to those hit by it, leaving no physical mark or injury to the victim's body. It was accompanied by a bright jet of green light and a distinctive rushing noise while cast. There was no known counter-curse that could protect the victim apart from loving sacrifice. It was one of the three Unforgivable Curses.[14]
Seen/Mentioned: Used by numerous Dark witches and wizards throughout history, and occasionally by Aurors, against their enemies, notably by Tom Riddle to murder many of his victims. Harry Potter was saved from this spell a number of times: by his mother's loving sacrifice, because he was an accidental Horcrux, because his wand and his enemy's were made of the same core, and because the Elder Wand refused to kill its true master (Harry Potter) during Voldemort's Last Stand.
Etymology: Avada Kedavra is based on the Aramaic אַבַדָא כְּדַברָא, avada kedavra, meaning "let the thing be destroyed".
Description: Turned an object into a tracking device.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1927, Newton Scamander used this spell to track the origins of a feather - a clue found during his search for Porpentina Goldstein - back to Yusuf Kama, whose hat the feather came from.
Etymology: The incantation Avenseguim is likely derived from the portmanteau of avens, a Latin adjective for "eager" or "craving", and seguir, the Spanish and Portuguese verb meaning "to follow", or alternatively from the Catalan seguim, meaning "we follow". Taken together, Avenseguim can be interpreted as "to eagerly follow", which aptly characterises the behaviour of a tracking device.
Seen/Mentioned:Gilderoy Lockhart claimed to have cured a Transylvanian farmer afflicted with this curse; a feat that was in fact performed by another, more accomplished witch or wizard whose deed Lockhart stole the credit for and embellished.[15]
Description: Allowed the caster to disguise things.
Seen/Mentioned: When Xenophilius Lovegood explained the concept of how the Cloak of Invisibility is the only thing that can make a person truly invisible, he mentioned that most cloaks of that kind are made with this spell.[19]
Note: Though the exact effects was unknown, based on the name (and the fact that it is used in conjunction with a chameleon charm on certain cloaks, it is probably a Concealment Charm.
Description: Produced magical blue flames that could be held in a jar. Not as dangerous as real fire, these magical flames could be touched, penetrated and held without it burning the holder, though it was known to singe materials such as clothing and plants.[22]
Description: Jet of blue sparks. It could be used offensively as a minor duelling spell.
Seen/Mentioned: Following the American National Quidditch team's win at the semi-finals of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup against Liechenstein, red, white and blue sparks filled the air so thickly it was difficult to see or breathe.
Description: If used correctly, it is claimed that this spell could heal broken bones; supported by the etymology.
Seen/Mentioned: Used unsuccessfully by Gilderoy Lockhart on Harry Potter in 1992 after the latter's arm was broken by a Bludger; it vanished all the bones, making it resemble rubber, though the pain in Harry's arm was entirely gone.
Etymology: The word Brackium is likely derived from the Latin word "Bracchium" meaning "Forearm" or just "Arm", and Emendo, from the Latin word of the same spelling, meaning "I Correct" or "I Improve", the full meaning would be "I Correct/Improve the Forearm".
Description: Used to make broomsticks try to throw their riders off through a variety of means such as sudden lurches and violent swishing movements. Constant eye contact is needed for the jinx to keep working.[24]
Description: Produced a stream of non-bursting bubbles from the wand tip.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Professor Flitwick to decorate some Christmas trees;[20] the bubbles in this instance were golden. Used the following year by Ron Weasley when he broke his wand; these bubbles were purple.
Description: Expanded the internal dimensions of an object without affecting its external dimensions, enhancing its capacity, and rendering its contents lighter.
Seen/Mentioned:Newton Scamander used this spell to expand his suitcase so he could fit through and access the inside. Arthur Weasley used this spell to allow eight people, six large trunks, two owls, and a rat to fit comfortably inside his modified Ford Anglia in 1992. Also on the tent in which the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione stay during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup; the tent is also used by Harry, Ron and Hermione as shelter in 1997. Also, Hermione cast this spell upon her handbag in the same year.
Etymology:'Capacious in English means when the capacity is very extreme, and Extremis is in Latin, extreme. Hence, it means "extreme capacity".
Description: Produced a rope of light used to pull objects towards the caster, or, if the target was fixed in place, to pull the caster towards the target.
Description: Caused plants within a greenhouse to grow at an accelerated rate. It was created by combining elements of the Herbivicus Charm and Gemino Curse.
Description: Induced magically artificial exhilaration in the target. Overuse of the spell may cause an uncontrollable laughing fit. This spell was invented by Felix Summerbee.
Etymology: The suffix "shoo" is a phonetic spelling of English "shoe"; the prefix collo may come from Greek "κολάω,κολώ" (pronounced "colao","colo"), which means "to glue".
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Harry Potter to destroy the side-car of a motorbike in which he was riding during a battle against some Death Eaters in 1997. Also used later by Hermione Granger in an attempt to kill Nagini and facilitate an escape from Godric's Hollow.
Etymology: The incantation is direct Latin for "destroy".
Notes: This spell seems to use heat for its explosion, while Expulso uses pressure instead.
Etymology: The incantation, when non-capitalised, means "I confuse"; the title may derive from the Latinconfundere, meaning "to confuse" or "to perplex."
Description: Induced great irritation in the eyes and caused them to swell shut. The Oculus Potion was able to counteract this curse. Dragons were susceptible to this curse, as their hide makes them resistant to most spells, while their eyes remain vulnerable.
Description: This spell was used to conjure exploding wizard crackers; it could be used in duelling to harm the opponent, but the force of the explosion may also affect the caster.
Description: This spell, was used to assist the caster in cheating on written papers, tests, and exams. It is possible that this spell was negated by anti-cheating spells.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1991, an unnamed Slytherin student asked his fellow students whether any of them knew any good cribbing spells.
Description: Used to transfigure the colour and style of one's hair.[11]
Seen/Mentioned: This maybe be the spell that caused Harry to turn his eyebrow yellow in 1996. Harry may have used this spell to turn his teacher's hair blue. This spell may be related to Metamorphaguses.
Description: Inflicted intense, excruciating physical pain on the recipient of the curse, and could result in insanity if the victim was exposed to it for too long. The pain was described as worse than having "white-hot knives" being driven into the victim. It could not be performed successfully by a person who was acting out of pure spite or anger; one had to feel a true, deep desire to cause the victim pain and take great pleasure in their suffering. If someone cast this spell on another fellow human being or living creature, he or she received a life sentence in Azkaban prison for it, as with the other two Unforgivable Curses.[14]
Description: Allowd the caster to dig and carve through things.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by The Trio to escape from Gringotts in 1998 while riding a dragon. It was later used by Harry to write the epitaph for Dobby, who had been killed.
Description: This hex caused the victim's teeth to grow rapidly.[31]
Seen/Mentioned: Introduced in 1994, when Draco Malfoy's spell struck Hermione Granger; her teeth were past her collar before she was forced to run to the hospital to get them shrunk.[31]
Etymology: From Latindens, meaning "tooth", and augeo, meaning "I enlarge"; essentially, it means "I enlarge the tooth".
Description: Caused object to fall or move downwards.[32]
Seen/Mentioned: In 1997, it was used by Ron to magically cause the stairs in his bedroom, which lead to his family's attic, to descend; later that year, Crabbe used it in an attempt to cause a wall of rubbish behind which Ron was hiding to fall on him.[32]
Seen/Mentioned: Professor McGonagall used this spell as a demonstration for her class of first years in 1991, then changed the pig back into a desk.[33]
Description: Used to precisely cut or tear objects.
Seen/Mentioned: Used twice in 1994, the first time being by Harry Potter to cut Cedric Diggory's bag in order to talk to the latter,[2] and the second time being by Ron Weasley to cut the lace from the cuffs of his dress robes in an attempt to make them seem less feminine. The spell was used a third time by Harry to swap the covers of his second-hand and brand-new copies of Advanced Potion-Making.
Etymology:Latindiffindere, meaning "to divide" or "to split".
Description: Like the Killing curse, it killed (or froze) the victim. It turned the body grey/blue (or paler) while it turned to stone and then another twin spell could blast the body into pieces.
Notes: This may not be a spell at all in the strict sense but a password; however, when used for the statue of the hump-backed witch, one must tap the statue with their wand, indicating that it is in fact a spell.
Description: Caused the target to swell in physical size. Its counter-charm was the Shrinking Charm.
Seen/Mentioned:Rubeus Hagrid used this spell on his pumpkins in 1992; two years later, Barty Crouch Jnr cast this spell on a spider to make it easier for students to see when he cast a curse on it. Used on another spider three years later to test a new wand.
Etymology: The English word engorge means "swell".
Notes: There is much speculation that this spell is the same as the Growth Charm, though this cannot be proven. Note that there is a difference between enlarging and engorging something, similar though they may seem.
Description: Caused the victim's skull to swell disproportionately.[11] This spell may be a variation of the Engorgement Charm, as they share the first word of the incantation. Its countercurse was Redactum Skullus.
Etymology: See etymology for above entry; "skullus" is Latin for "skull".
Description: This charm was a highly powerful and advanced protective spell that conjured a spirit guardian of the caster's positive emotions to defend against darkcreatures; it could also be used to send messages to other witches or wizards. The Patronus took the form of an animal, unique to each person who cast it. The form of a Patronus could change when one had undergone a period of heightened emotion.
Etymology:Patronus means "protector" in Latin; in archaic Latin, it means "father"; considering the form Harry's takes, this is interesting. The Latin word expecto means "I await"[45]
Description: Implanted a false memory in the victim without them realising it was not originally theirs.
Seen/Mentioned:Lord Voldemort used this spell twice: firstly in 1943 upon his uncle Morfin Gaunt, then sometime later on the house-elf Hokey. Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible. It was likely that Kingsley Shacklebolt used this spell on Marietta Edgecombe in 1996 in order to prevent her from revealing Dumbledore's Army to Cornelius Fudge. This was reinforced by Dumbledore stating that Shacklebolt was "remarkably quick on the uptake" in modifying her memory. It was possible that Professor Horace Slughorn used this in the following school year to hide his memory of Voldemort asking him about Horcruxes, although as he retained awareness of the true memory, his spell may have been a different one. It was also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simply went blank at the right times and was replaced by disembodied shouting, rather than images; this was noted to have been crudely done. Hermione Granger used this in 1997 to make her parents believe they were named Wendell and Monica Wilkins respectively, that they had no daughter, and to make them move to Australia in order to protect them from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Seen/Mentioned:Harry Potter contemplated using this in 1993 to lighten his trunk so that he could carry it by broom to Gringotts, though he decided against it.
Description: An immensely complex charm used to hide secret information within the soul of the charm's recipient, who is called a Secret-Keeper. The information is irretrievable unless the Secret-Keeper willingly chooses to reveal it, and only the aforementioned person can do so.
Notes: Although when a Secret-Keeper dies the secret they held can never be revealed to anyone else[49], in 1997 it is apparent that upon the Keeper's death all those who had been told the secret become keepers in turn.
Notes (2): This charm seems to have no effect with regard to animals, as Hedwig found Ron and Hermione in a location that was protected by this charm; however, it is possible that Dumbledore somehow told her, ludicrous though such may seem.
Description: Unleashed cursed fire that took the shape of animals which actively sought out living targets and burned anything in its path, including nearly indestructible substances such as Horcruxes. In addition, this fire was made even more dangerous due to the fact that it was extremely difficult to control and could not be extinguished with normal or enchantedwater.[32]
Seen/Mentioned: Though there are numerous instances when it may have been used, it was only proven to have been used in 1998 by Vincent Crabbe, who was killed by it.[32]
Seen/Mentioned: On 6 December1926, Newt Scamander shattered the front window of the Voclain & Co. jewellery store in New York using this spell to try and recapture his escaped niffler when he saw it loose inside the store stealing things.
Description: Could be cast around a person to make fire to gently tickle people who came into contact with it instead of burning them.
Seen/Mentioned:Third year students wrote an essay on the use of this charm in medieval witch-burnings; Wendelin the Weird was burned forty-seven times.
Description: Jet of green sparks that could be used to signal an emergency or as a minor duelling spell.
Seen/Mentioned: Taught in Defence Against the Dark Arts; When Hagrid, Harry and Hermione tried to find an injured unicorn, Hagrid said that if it is found, they must send up green sparks.
Notes: The incantation is almost certainly Verdimillious.
Description: Revealed human presence in the vicinity of the caster.
Seen/Mentioned: Used multiple times by various people in 1997.
Etymology: Most likely from Latin homo, meaning human, and "reveal", though the classical Latin form would be hominem instead of homenum, which shows Portuguese influence ("man" is homem in Portuguese).
Notes: It can be used non-verbally; Dumbledore does so to detect Harry underneath his Invisibility Cloak.[50]
Description: Tracked the movements of human beings. The charm had a powerful effect in that it was not fooled by various methods of concealment and disguise, such as Invisibility Cloaks, the Polyjuice Potion, or transformed Animagi.
Seen/Mentioned: Gilderoy Lockhart falsely claimed to have used it to force the Wagga Wagga Werewolf to take its human form, a feat accomplished by a more accomplished individual.[15]
Suggested Etymology: Latin homo meaning "person" and Greek morphosis meaning "shaping"
Description: Transformed the target's tongue into a horn.
Seen/Mentioned:Harry Potter came across it while perusing the index of Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed in search of a way to overcome the dragon he knew he would have to face in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He quickly ruled it out, however, realising it would only give the dragon yet another way to attack him.[2]
Description: Charm patented by Basil Horton and Randolph Keitch that allowed for broom-riders to stop more precisely. This spell was first used on the Comet 140 to prevent players from overshooting the goal posts and from flying off-sides.
Description: This spell allowed a part of a wizard's soul to pass into an object, thereby making the object a Horcrux. One had to commit murder and take advantage of the soul's "splitting apart" by this supreme act of evil in order to be able to perform the spell, and it was probably very complex. In 1943, Horace Slughorn described the spell to a young Tom Riddle as encasing a portion of the torn soul and placing it within an object. The spell itself was described in detail in a banned book known as Secret of the Darkest Art, which Hermione Granger summoned from Albus Dumbledore's office near the end of their sixth year. According to the text, use of this spell to separate the soul made the remaining portion of the soul very fragile, and it could only be reversed by "remorse" of the wrongs the creator had committed; however, the pain caused by attempting to reverse the creation of a Horcrux could destroy the individual.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Lord Voldemort while creating his Horcruxes.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione Granger in 1995 to dry off her robes. Also used shortly after to melt snow. Also was used by Albus Dumbledore in 1997 to dry Harry's and his own robes.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in 1995 when Harry was practising for the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. In 1996, Harry saw in a memory that James Potter used it on Severus Snape. Also used in 1997 by Harry against the Inferi and Snape. Stronger uses of this spell seemed capable of blowing targets away.
Etymology: Latin impedimentum (plural impedimenta), "a hindrance" or "an impediment".
Viktor Krum under the effects of Barty Crouch Jnr's Imperius Curse
Type: Curse
Pronunciation: im-PEER-ee-oh
Description: Placed the victim completely under the caster's control. The victim was put into a calm, trance-like state and became unquestionably obedient to the commands of the caster. However, those who were strong-willed could learn to resist it. One of the three "Unforgivable Curses," the use of this curse on another human resulted in capital punishment or a life sentence in Azkaban.[14]
Seen/Mentioned: Used on many occasions. First seen in 1994 when Barty Crouch Jnr, impersonating ex-AurorAlastor Moody, used it on a spider and later on students during a "class demonstration" in a Defence Against the Dark Arts class. While breaking into Gringotts in 1998, Harry used it on a goblin and a Death Eater when they became suspicious.
Etymology: Latin impero, I command, and English "imperious".
Description: Created an invisible magical barrier on an object that objects bounced objects off of, and muffled sounds.
Seen/Mentioned: It used by Molly Weasley in the same year on the door of the room in which an Order of the Phoenix meeting was being held, in order to prevent her sons, Fred and George, from eavesdropping.[55]
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione Granger in 1993 on Harry's glasses while in a Quidditch match and also by the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Also used in 1997, first by Ron to protect objects in Yaxley's office from rain, and then by Hermione to protect Harry, Ron and Griphook from the burning treasure in the Lestranges' vault.
Etymology: It is said that the Latin impervius means (and is the source of) "impervious"; although it is the source of the word, it is better translated as impassable, as in a mountain peak.
Etymology: Probably English incarcerate, "to imprison". Possibly linked to the Latin in carcerem, "in(to) prison".
Notes: A non-verbal version of this spell may have been used to tie up Remus Lupin by Severus Snape during the encounter in the Shrieking Shack, and then later Peter Pettigrew in 1994. It may also have been used by Quirrell in 1992, although he is said to have merely "snapped his fingers". Also, it may have been the spell Antonin Dolohov used non-verbally to bind Ron Weasley with "shining black ropes" in a skirmish on Tottenham Court Road.
Seen/Mentioned: It was used in 1994 by Arthur Weasley to create a fire in the Dursleys' hearth so that he could use Floo Powder there.[56]
Etymology: Latin incendere, "to set fire (to)". Note that the first principal part of this verb (meaning "I set fire") is incendo, not incendio; the incantation does not match exactly any correct conjugation of the verb. Incêndio, in Portuguese (same pronunciation as in English) means 'huge fire'. "Encender" in Spanish means "to ignite" and "Incendie" in French means flame. (A plausible but less likely source might be that it is a back-formation from the English word "incendiary," i.e., "causing fire.")
Description: A spell that was used to complete one's Folio Bruti. A page with a brief description (including weaknesses and strengths) of the charmed creature was added to the caster's Folio Bruti.
Etymology: The prefix Info derives from the English verb "to inform".
Description: Instantly scalped all the hair off of a target.
Seen/Mentioned:Harry Potter came across it while browsing the index of Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed, trying to find a way to fight the dragon he knew he would have to face for the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He quickly decided it would be ineffective, because dragons do not have hair.
Notes: This spell has similar effects to the Hair Loss Curse.
Notes: This spell may have been the spell that the Death Eaters hit Ron with in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Description: Caused target's fingers to become wobbly, making it difficult for the victim to grasp objects.
Seen/Mentioned: After a June 1999Pride of Portree/Appleby Arrows Quidditch game, the losing Seeker accused his opposite number of putting this curse on him as they both closed in on the Snitch.
Description: Reversed the position of the victim's knees.[17]
Seen/mentioned: In Quidditch Through the Ages, Gertie Keddle uses this hex when a man playing an early form of Quidditch comes to retrieve his ball from her garden.
Description: Allowed the caster to delve into the mind of the victim, allowing the caster to see the memories, thoughts, and emotions of the victim.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Severus Snape on Harry after he had a dream about Arthur Weasley being attacked by Nagini in 1995. Also during Occlumency lessons in 1996. Also used non-verbally by Snape on Harry in 1997 to allow him to see where Harry had learned the Sectumsempra spell.
Etymology: Latin legere ("to read") and mens ("mind").
Description: Hoisted people up into the air by their ankles.[58] Created by Severus Snape.[5]
Seen/Mentioned: Apparently invented by the Half-Blood Prince; it is a non-verbal-only spell (although it is whispered by Hermione in 1997). Harry Potter learnt it by reading the notes written by the Half-Blood Prince. He used it on Ron. The previous year, Harry had seen (through the Pensieve used by Severus Snape) his father, James Potter, use the spell against Professor Snape.
Etymology: Latin levare, "raise" and corpus, "body" or "corpse".
Seen/Mentioned: Harry used the spell in 1996 to counteract Levicorpus he had inadvertently cast on Ron.[58]
Etymology: Latin liberare, "to free", and corpus, "body" or "corpse".
Notes: It is not clear why Levicorpus has a specific counter-spell, and is not neutralised by simply using Finite Incantatem, although this could be due to the fact that Snape invented the spell and therefore made it irreversible except by its specific counter-curse.
Description: Allowed a witch or wizard to levitate a target a few inches off of the ground and then move said object in any given direction. Similarly to the Summoning Charm, a specific object could be moved by calling the object aloud after saying the incantation.
Etymology: English locomotion, "movement" + Latin mortis, "of death".
Notes: It is unclear whether or how this spell is related to the Locomotor spell. It could, however, be that the curse "locks" any part of the body in accordance to where it is pointed, or moves the body into a position of the caster's choosing whilst placing them into an immobile state. It is possible that Draco had pointed his wand at Neville and the curse "locked" his legs together.
Etymology: Derived from two words; the Latin lumen, meaning "light", and the Latin word for "sun", which in its accusative case is "solem".
Notes: It is possible that the quality of the light is on the warmer solar end of the spectrum; Considering the known uses that the spell has been put to, it isn't that much of a stretch to presume that the spell is used to conjure Sunlight.
Description: Caused weather effects caused by jinxes to cease.
Seen/Mentioned: Suggested in 1997 by Arthur Weasley to Ron (disguised as Reginald Cattermole by use of Polyjuice Potion) as the best way to clear up the rain jinx on a Ministry office. Also used by Bartemius Crouch Jnr (Disguised as Alastor Moody) In 1994 to cease the weather effect of the Great Hall's Ceiling insisting it is broken as he told Dumbledore to "Fix his ceiling".
Etymology:Meteorology, the study of weather, the word jinx and recant, "to withdraw or retract". Interestingly in modern English recant means to say that you no longer hold a belief.
Description: Tied the target's tongue in a knot, preventing them from making coherent speech, or saying incantations correctly, making it useful in duels.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in 1997 as a deterrent to Severus Snape, or any other unwanted visitor of 12 Grimmauld Place, from betraying their location to anyone else.
Description: Patented charm used by the Ministry for Magic to conceal certain areas from Muggle view.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in 1997 as a deterrent to Severus Snape, or any other unwanted visitor of 12 Grimmauld Place, from betraying their location to anyone else.
Etymology: Latin mors, "death", and mordere, meaning "to bite" (or its French derivative mordre); this would appear to be associated with the name of Lord Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters. The English murder might also contribute.
Notes: A possible translation might be "take a bite out of death", a fitting phrase for Death Eaters.
Description: Gave the victim a nasty cold and an extremely runny nose that can cause the victim to collapse if it is not treated. The cold was accompanied with constant sneezing.
Description: Extinguished wandlight. It was the counter-charm for the Wand-Lighting Charm.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1994, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger used this spell to turn off their wand-lights in the Shrieking Shack. Used in 1998 when Harry was in the passage beneath the Whomping Willow which leads to the Shrieking Shack. Lumos's power can be arranged so that a powerful wizard can make the charm illuminate intensely or to the wizards liking by loudness of incantation. For example "LUMOS!!!" would be powerful and "lumos" would be weaker. Also used by Harry Potter in 1998 to turn off the light so he could hide the Marauder's Map from Severus Snape.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in 1995 to remove the footprints that she, Harry, and Ron left in the snow while walking to Hagrid's Hut. Also used in 1997 by Hermione to remove the footprints she and Harry left behind them in the snow as they journeyed through Godric's Hollow.
Notes: The Obliteration Charm is only known to remove footprints. There is no explanation as to what effect it can have on other things. It could possibly destroy things, according to its name.
Description: Erased specific memories or completely wiping the entire memory of the target, depending on intent.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in 1993 when used by Gilderoy Lockhart on Harry and Ron; the spell backfired due to a faulty wand, costing Lockhart most of his own memory. Also, Hermione Granger used this spell to wipe her parents memories in 1997. Again, it was used in 1997 when Hermione Granger used the spell on 2 Death Eaters who had followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione after their escape from Bill Weasley's and Fleur Delacour's wedding.
Etymology: Latin oblivisci, "forget". The spell is most often used against Muggles who have seen something of the Wizarding world.
Notes:Invented by Mnemone Radford, who became the Ministry's first Obliviator. The Ministry of Magic employees assigned to modifying the memories of Muggles are called Obliviators. The charm can be broken by powerful magic, or extreme duress, as Lord Voldemort was able to torture Bertha Jorkins into remembering details that Barty Crouch Snr had forced her to forget using the charm. In this case, it was also shown that if the charm is too powerful, it can cause the target to develop a bad memory. This spell differs from the False memory charm.
Description: Sealed someone's mouth shut, making it appear it was never there.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Leta Lestrange on a girl from Gryffindor when they were both in their third year at Hogwarts. The Gryffindor girl was speaking ill of Lestrange behind her back until Lestrange emerged from hiding nearby, and muted the Gryffindor girl with this spell.
Etymology: Possibly derived as a portmanteau of os, Latin for "mouth", and clausi (a conjugated form of claudo), Latin for "I shut". It may additionally be a pun or wordplay on scusi, the Italian interjection for "excuse me".
Etymology:Partis is a plural form of the French verb partir, which means "to separate," "to go away," "to leave," or "to depart." Temporis is Latin for "time."
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in 1995, when Sirius Black suspected that his mother's painting was fixed to the wall with such a Charm. It is implied that the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minister's office also has such a charm on it.
Notes: It is never said whether the charm prevents the object from being removed by cutting away the section of wall. The incantation could be gluten sempra, meaning glue forever, or adher sempra, which means stick forever.
Description: The one time it was used, it had absolutely no effect.[53]
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Lockhart to attempt to remove Cornish Pixies.[53]
Suggested Etymology: English pesky meaning "annoying", English pixie meaning "a supernatural being", English pester meaning "to annoy", English no for negative and English me for the first person pronoun.
Notes: It is not known if the spell works or not. It also suspiciously sounds like "Pesky pixie pester no me."
Description: Used to temporarily bind the victim's body in a position much like that of a soldier at attention; the victim would usually fall to the ground.[22]
Etymology: Latin petra, meaning "stone", and fieri (past participle factus), meaning "to become"; totalus comes from Latin "totus", meaning "complete".
Description: Animated and controled inanimate targets.[63]
Seen/Mentioned: In the Battle of Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall used this spell to animate the suits of armour and statues within Hogwarts to defend the castle.[63] Also used by Albus Dumbledore to enchant the statues on the fountain in the entrance to the Ministry of Magic Department.[6]
Etymology:Pier means "friend" or "colleague", totum refers to "the whole" or "total", and locomotor means "the movement of".
Description: Magically placed an object in a location or on a specific target. Placement Charms could be used to place a bridle on a kelpie to render it harmless and docile.
Note: This spell may be an invention of Hermione Granger. Given that the incantation is English (whereas almost all other mentioned spells have incantations based on Latin or other old languages) and that none of the other champions of the Tournament seem to use the spell, it seems likely that Hermione invented the spell.
Etymology: Latin porta, meaning "gate", or portare, meaning "to carry" (as in to carry the caster or target to another location). There is a Latin word portus, meaning "harbour", but it is inappropriate in this context.
Notes: Portkeys were first seen in 1994 as a means for Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys to go to the Quidditch World Cup. However, the spell used in its creation was not seen until 1995.
Description: Made a wand to show an "echo" of the last spell it performed.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Amos Diggory in 1994 to discover the last spell cast by Harry's wand after it was found in the hands of Winky, a house-elf.
Etymology: Latin prior, "previous", and incantare, "to speak a spell" (past participle incantatum).
Notes: Can manifest in the form of the Reverse Spell effect, or Priori Incantatem, when wands with the same core attempt to do battle.
Notes (2): Apparently the spell is cumulative, with the user able to go further back and see spells that the wand performed after the latest spell. Harry suggests this in 1997. Hermione does not contradict his claim, suggesting this is true.
Description: Caused copies of an object to be remotely affected by changes made to the original.
Seen/Mentioned: First used in 1995. Hermione Granger put the charm on a number of fake Galleons. Instead of the serial number around the edge of the coin, the time and date of the next meeting of Dumbledore's Army appeared. It is possible that this charm is used on the Death Eaters' Dark Marks.
Etymology: The English word Protean derives from Proteus, a god in Greek Mythology. Proteus was a shape-shifter, able to take many forms. As a result, the word Protean has come to refer to versatility, flexibility, or an ability to assume many forms. "Protean" is also similar to "protein", derived from the same root, meaning a variable, flexible substance which forms strong bonds between its constituent parts.
Notes: On Hermione's fake galleons, when the date changes, the coin becomes hot, alerting the owner to look at the coin. This may not be a feature of the original charm. It may be a Flagrante Curse, when the Protean Charm changes the coin the curse may activate. It would seem from this that you can decide what the effects on the charmed objects are. Possibly by saying something along the lines of "Protean flagrante." although this is just speculation.
Notes (2): The Protean Charm is a N.E.W.T. standard charm, according to Terry Boot, who is incredulous that Hermione can perform the spell even though she is only in her fifth year (N.E.W.T.s are taken in the seventh year at Hogwarts).
Description: Invisible shield that blocked or deflected spells and physical entities.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in 1995, in which Harry is taught this spell by Hermione in preparation for the third task in the Triwizard Tournament. Albus Dumbledore uses a similar spell which reverses the construction of glass back into sand when Voldemort sent shards of glass to try to stab Dumbledore. Fred and George Weasley enchanted hats they dubbed "shield hats" with this spell in 1997.
Etymology: Latin protego, "I cover" or "I protect".
Notes: The original description of this spell states that it rebounds minor jinxes to the caster. However, it is shown that it can also be used to reflect or lessen the effects of more powerful spells, depending on the skill of the caster. In 1998, it is also shown to be able to create a sort of force-field across an area, and is used frequently to prevent two participants in an argument from reaching each other.
Description: A powerful shield charm against dark magic. A stronger and bigger version of Protego, especially when combined with other wizards casting it at the same time. Was so powerful that it could also disintegrate people that came too close and tried to enter it.
Etymology: English reduce, "to shrink". (Latin has a verb reducere, present tense reduco. This is the source of the English "reduce", but has a different meaning.) Also in Italian Riduco first person present tense of Ridurre, same root of Latin Reducere.
Notes: Whether Reducio could also be used by itself rather than countering Engorgio is unknown. If it could, it would shrink normal sized items into miniature versions of themselves. References in 1992 by Arthur Weasley to "shrinking door keys" make this seem likely.
Description: Broke objects, or in stronger casts of the spell, disintegrated them.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1995, Harry used it on one of the hedges of the Triwizard maze and ends up burning a small hole in it; in 1995, Gryffindors in Harry Potter's year referenced Parvati Patil as being able to reduce a table full of Dark Detectors to ashes, and Harry and his friends later used the spell in the Department of Mysteries against the Death Eaters, shattering many Prophecy Orbs in the process; in 1997, a member of the Order of the Phoenix attempted to use this spell to break down a door which Death Eaters had blocked when the Death Eaters had cornered Dumbledore in the Lightning Struck Tower.
Etymology: English reduce, "to bring down;destroy".
Etymology:Reverte is derived from Latin for "you shall return", being a second-person imperative form (singular, present, active) of the verb reverto ("I return, or turn back").
Etymology: Latin reparo meaning "to renew" or "repair".[64]
Notes:Reparo has been seen to repair non-magical items, however it seems to have an inability at repairing magical items or items that have magic placed upon them. An example is Harry's Nimbus 2000 shown in 1993 which he is told is irreparable after it is destroyed by the Whomping Willow. Wands are also irreparable, as shown in 1992 when Ron's wand snapped after he and Harry crashed onto the Hogwarts grounds. Despite his use of Spellotape, Ron's wand malfunctioned throughout the year. Another example is in 1997 when Hermione tried to fix Harry's broken wand, which was snapped by her errant Blasting Curse. However, Harry repaired his wand with the Elder Wand. Since the Elder Wand is the most powerful wand in creation, it makes sense that it would produce the most powerful Mending Charm.
Description: Kept Muggles away from wizarding places by causing them to remember important meetings they missed and caused the Muggles in question to forget what they were doing.
Seen/Mentioned: It was used to keep Muggles away from the Quidditch World Cup. Hogwarts was also said to be guarded by the Muggle-Repelling Charm. It was also used by Harry and Hermione on numerous occasions, among many other spells, to protect and hide their camp site in 1997.
Etymology: Possibly the sum of two words; The Latin rictus, meaning "The expanse of an open mouth", and semper, meaning "Always". Rictus is generally used as an expression of terror, however, "always an open mouth" would, in most cases, correspond to the act of laughing uncontrollably.
Description: A spell used when fighting a Boggart, "Riddikulus" forced the Boggart to take the appearance of an object the caster was focusing on. The best results were achieved if the caster focused on something humorous, with the desire that laughter would weaken the Boggart.[65]
Etymology: Latin word ridiculus, "laughable" (but perhaps "absurd" or "silly" in this context).
Notes: The effect of the spell seems to rely primarily on the state of mind of the caster. It doesn't actually change the shape of a boggart into something humorous, but rather whatever the caster is concentrating on at the moment of the casting, as when Neville was thinking of his grandmother's dress. Presumably, Mrs Weasley couldn't take her mind off of her fears for her family, so the Boggart was changed into other members of the family rather than something humorous.
Seen/mentioned: Hagrid used the spell on the row-boats at Hogwarts to transport the First years from Hogsmeade station to the Boathouse. It may also have been the spell that he used to propel the row-boat that he used to take Harry from the Hut-on-the-Rock back to the mainland in 1991.
Description: Protected the caster and/or target location against hexes.
Seen/Mentioned: Harry and Hermione cast this spell to strengthen their camp-site's defences against intruders in 1997.
Etymology: Possibly derived from the Latin "salveo," meaning "to be in good health," and used as a form of greeting and farewell, and a pseudo-Latin derivative of the English word "hex"—hence, "Farewell, hexes!"
Notes: Possibly the Hex Deflection spells the fake Moody mentioned in 1994.
Description: Conjured a creamy sauce from the tip of the wand.
Seen/Mentioned: Molly Weasley used this spell in August of 1994 to pour some sauce in a pot to make dinner for her family, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Notes: According to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, food can't be conjured. This implies that sauce is not considered "good food," as things suitable for consumption may created with the spell, such as birds.
Etymology: Perhaps related to English scour, "clean". -ify is a common English suffix meaning "to make ...". Therefore scourgify could mean "to make clean".
Seen/Mentioned: All applicants for wand permits in the United States were required by the Magical Congress of the United States of America to close the envelope in which they sent their applications back to the Wand Permit Office with this spell.
Description: Lacerated the target, as if they were "slashed by a sword." Subsequently, the target could easily bleed to death from the wounds.[60] This curse was invented by Severus Snape, to be used against his personal enemies.[5]
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Harry in 1997 against Draco Malfoy,[60] and then later against both the Inferi in Lord Voldemort's Horcrux cave,[4] and Snape used it against George Weasley (was unintentional; aimed for a Death Eater that tried to curse Lupin) in the Order's flight from Privet Drive. Harry learned it in Snape's old Potions textbook. In 1998, the spell is said to be Severus Snape's "signature" spell.
Etymology: Latin sectum, "cut", and semper, "always".
Notes: The spell can apparently be used against any object, but was not effective when used against Inferi because they could not feel pain or bleed. The movement of the wand seems to affect how someone is cut, suggested by the erratic patterns of slashes left on Draco Malfoy's face and chest, produced by Harry Potter's wild wand-swings while using the spell against Draco. Wounds caused by this spell can be healed as proved by Severus Snape who after Harry hit Draco Malfoy with this spell he healed Draco's wounds and told him to go and get treated with dittany at once so that he would even avoid any sign of any wound. However it seems that it depends on the caster's magical abilities because Molly Weasley could not heal and restore George Weasley's ear that was cursed off by this spell.
Seen/Mentioned: First used by Hermione in 1996 to silence a frog and a raven in Charms class, then later used to silence a Death Eater that was trying to tell his comrades where they were.
Etymology: Probably Latin silentium, "silence". Also, silencio and silêncio (which is closer to the English pronunciation) mean "silence" in Spanish and Portuguese, respectively.
Description: Forceed the victim to burp up slimy slugs.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1992, Ronald Weasley attempted to curse Draco Malfoy with this spell after the latter insulted Hermione Granger, but was unsuccessful as his wand at the time was broken, and thus his curse backfired on himself.[66]
Description: This charm emitted a magnified roar from the tip of the wand. This noise disrupted all in its path, and could even be used to harm opponents.
Notes: Not to be confused with the Amplifying Charm, Sonorus.
Description: Revealed spells cast on objects or potions.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione Granger to find out more of Harry's Advanced Potion-Making book in 1996. Used by Ernie Macmillan to find out ingredients of a potion.
Etymology: Latin specialis, "particular;individual" and revelare (present tense revelo), "unveil".
Notes: In 1994, Severus Snape cast a similar spell, but with different words ("Reveal your secrets!"), on the Marauder's Map, though he may have just been saying those words as he cast the spell non-verbally.
Description: Made the target's legs spongy, making it difficult for them to walk.
Seen/Mentioned: Used during the September 1999 riot that took place at a Puddlemere vs. Holyhead Harpies match. The Puddlemere supporters used this curse against the Holyhead Harpies supporters in retaliation to the Jelly-Brain Jinx.
Seen/Mentioned:Harry Potter inadvertently used one on Severus Snape during Occlumency lessons in 1996. It was non-debilitating in that instance, but it is stronger when intentionally cast, as shown by the results of Hermione Granger's Stinging Hex used on Harry Potter in 1998 to purposefully distort Harry's appearance.
Seen/Mentioned:Molly Weasley remarked in 1996 that recent growth spurts had made her son Ron and his friend, Harry Potter, look as if this jinx had been cast upon them both.
Description: Stunned the target and rendered them unconscious.
Seen/Mentioned: Often; particularly by a number of wizards and witches (including Dolores Umbridge) against Minerva McGonagall in 1996. It's also taught by Harry in his D.A. meetings.
Etymology: English stupefy, which means 'to put into a stupor', a temporary vegetative state.
Notes: The physical manifestation of the spell is a beam of red light emanating from the caster's wand. The spell wears off after a short time, and can be countered by Rennervate. Nearly useless on magic-resistant creatures such as dragons, trolls and giants unless more than one Stupefy spell is used at the same time. The force of the spell is additive or perhaps even exponential, and it can cause severe injury if many spells are used on a target that is not normally resistant to its effects. Hagrid, as a half-giant, was impervious to this spell - or at least, a lone one.
Description: Granted the caster enhanced senses, or the ability to notice things they would not normally sense.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned by Ron outside of the Hogwarts Express in 2017 as a potential substitute for using mirrors while driving a Muggle automobile.
Description: Counter-charm that could be used to remove enchantments.
Seen/Mentioned: In 1927, Newton Scamander used Surgito to lift an enchantment that was placed on Jacob Kowalski. As a result of the spell, Kowalski awoke from the dreamlike enchanted state, and regained an awareness of reality in the present.
Etymology:Surgito is a Latin word in the imperative form meaning "you/he/she shall arise, or get up", and is a conjugation of the verb surgo ("I arise"). The etymology is appropriate, considering that the effects of the spell on Jacob Kowalski can be likened to waking up from a confused, dreamlike state.
Seen/Mentioned: Harry contemplated using this spell against his dragon in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. He considered swapping its fangs for wine gums. Neville Longbottom misuses the spell, transplanting his ears onto a cactus.
Xenophilius Lovegood triggering the Taboo on purpose
Type: Jinx
Description: A jinx that could be placed upon a word or a name, so that whenever that word was spoken, a magical disturbance was created which alerted the caster of the Taboo to the location of the speaker. Any protective enchantments in effect around the speaker were broken when the Tabooed word was spoken aloud.[67]
Seen/Mentioned: This jinx was placed on the word "Voldemort"; Harry, Ron and Hermione are tracked this way to Tottenham Court Road. Ron tells the other two to stop using the word as he began to fear the name might be a curse, later discovering it to be a Taboo. Later, Harry accidentally says Voldemort's name again, resulting in the trio being caught by Death Eaters and taken to Malfoy Manor.
Description: Made a target's legs spasm wildly out of control, and made it appear as though they were dancing.[42]
Seen/Mentioned: First used by Draco Malfoy on Harry Potter in the Duelling Club in 1992.[42]
Etymology: Italian tarantella, a kind of fast country dance once popular in parts of Italy, supposedly from the frantic motion caused by the bite of a tarantula; and allegro, a musical term meaning "quick".
Seen/Mentioned: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington attempted to use this spell on Lady Grieve at her request, but failed and gave her a tusk instead. He was executed the following morning. After he returned as a ghost, Nearly-Headless Nick recounted the incident in a ballad.
Seen/Mentioned:Hermione Granger used the spell in 1996 to remove blood from Harry's face. It was later used to remove spilled ink from parchment. It was also used in 1997 to clean off a handkerchief by Ron and to dust off a picture of Gellert Grindelwald in Bathilda Bagshot's house by Harry Potter.
Description: Possibly tortured the victim to death.
Seen/Mentioned:Gilderoy Lockhart suggested that it was this curse that "killed" Mrs Norris after she was really found petrified on a torch bracket.[68]
Etymology: English "transmogrify", meaning "to change or alter greatly, often to grotesque effect", possibly implying that the curse changes the shape of the victim to cause pain.
Notes: The incantation to this curse is possibly Transmogrify.
Seen/Mentioned:Hermione Granger used the charm on a jar, in which she put Rita Skeeter in her Animagus beetle form to prevent her from transforming back into a human.
Description: Caused a vow taken by a witch or wizard to be inviolable; if they should break it, the consequence would be death.
Seen/Mentioned:Snape made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy at the beginning of Half-Blood Prince, vowing to help Narcissa's son Draco with a task given to him by Voldemort, and to finish the task should Draco prove incapable. Fred and George attempted to force an Unbreakable Vow upon Ron as children. According to Ron, it caused death when the vow was broken.
Etymology: Most likely derives from the Latin "viridis", meaning "green", and French "mille", meaning "a thousand"; this most likely reflects the thousands of green sparks produced.
Notes: This spell is almost certainly the incantation for Green Sparks.
Description: Fired a jet of red sparks from the tip of the wand that could be used to signal an emergency, like an emergency flare, or as a minor duelling spell.
Etymology: Comes from English "vermilion", a term for a shade of brilliant red.
Etymology: "Waddiwasi" comes from two words. "Vadd" and "vas-y". "Vadd" is a Swedish word that can mean "wadding" and "vas-y" is French term that means "go ahead" or "Come on!" Together, they can roughly mean "The wad goes ahead."
Notes: This spell may be related to the Oppugno Jinx.
Etymology: "Wingardium" almost certainly contains Englishwing, meaning "fly"[72], and Latinarduus, meaning "high"[73]. "Leviosa" probably originates from Latinlevis, meaning "light".
Description: Jet of white sparks. It could be used offensively as a minor duelling spell.
Seen/Mentioned: Following the American National Quidditch team's win at the semi-finals of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup against Liechtenstein, red, white and blue sparks filled the air so thickly it was difficult to see or breathe.
Notes: The incantation to this spell is almost certainly Baubillious.
↑United States District Court, Southern District of New York (April 14, 2008). Warner Bros Entertainment, Inc. and J.K. Rowling v. RDR Books (Transcript). Stanford Law School. “Alohomora is a Sidiki word from West Africa, and it is a term used in geomancy. It is a figure -- the figure alohomora means in Sidiki "favourable to thieves." Which is obviously a very appropriate meaning for a spell that enables one to unlock a locked door by magic.”
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