Spells - C

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.[DH Ch.22]
Etymology: Correct Classical Latin for "Beware the enemy", from the verb caveo and the noun inimicus.

Colloportus

Pronunciation: cul-loh-POR-tus (IPA: /kɔ.lo.ˈpɔ˞.təs/)

Description: Magically locks a door, preventing it from being opened by Muggle means.[10]
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"[11] with the Latin word porta meaning "a gate"

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.[DH Ch.4] 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.[DH Ch.17]
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.[PA Ch.21] In Goblet of Fire, it is suggested that a powerful Confundus Charm is responsible for the Goblet choosing a fourth Triwizard contestant.[GF Ch.17] It is first seen in action when Hermione uses it on Cormac McLaggen during Quidditch tryouts in Half-Blood Prince.[HBP Ch.11] Its vernacular name is first revealed when Harry uses it on security guards during the Gringotts break-in in Deathly Hallows.[DH Ch.26]
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word confundo which means, "to confuse, throw into disorder".

Crucio (Cruciatus Curse)

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."