Something that makes the "Harry Potter" books fun to read for adults — not just kids — is author J. K. Rowling's use of wordplay. Names are often literary references or jokes, and many of the "Harry Potter" spells provide a clear hint at their function for anyone familiar with Latin or Greek.
Some spells are straightforward: The confundus charm confuses (or confounds) its recipient, the lumos spell produces a light (or illumination) at the end of the caster's wand, avis is a bird-conjuring charm (note the connection to aviary) and the sonorus spell amplifies the sound of the caster's voice. Other spells have more obscure origins.
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Here, we'll explore some of the most famous spells featured in the "Harry Potter" books and movies.