ɪn ˈeɪntʃənt ɹˈoʊm, kˈɑːɹmɛn wʌz dʒˈɛnɚɹəli jˈuːzd tə sˈɪɡnᵻfˌaɪ ɐ vˈɜːs, bˌʌt ɪn ɪts pɹˈɑːpɚ sˈɛns, ɪt ɹᵻfˈɜːd tʊ ɐ spˈɛl ɔːɹ pɹˈɛɹ, fˈɔːɹm ʌv ˌɛkspɪˈeɪʃən, ˌɛksɪkɹˈeɪʃən, ɛtsˈɛtɹə.
In Ancient Rome, carmen was generally used to signify a verse, but in its proper sense, it referred to a spell or prayer, form of expiation, execration, etc.