Overview

Enervate is a spell that is used to restore a person to consciousness, especially if he/she has been Stunned. Later versions of the series have been changed to indicate that the incantation is Renervate.

Extended Description

This spell is first used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by Amos Diggory to resuscitate Bartemius Crouch's house-elf, Winky, after she had been Stunned in the woods during the events following the Quidditch World Cup.

It is later used by Dumbledore to return Viktor Krum to consciousness near the Forbidden Forest after he was Stunned while he was alone there with Mr. Crouch, who at the time was suffering after-effects of the Imperius curse. Harry had gone to fetch Dumbledore because of the sudden appearance of Mr. Crouch, who during his strange behavior said that he wanted to meet Dumbledore.

It is used a third time, again by Dumbledore, this time to resuscitate the Stunned Barty Crouch Jr., that they might hear what had happened to the true Mad-Eye Moody.

Apparently the author chose to rename the spell, as in later books, and in later editions, it appears as "Renervate". In this form, in the later books in particular, it seems to be used as a general revival spell, rather than being specialized as a counter to Stunners.

Analysis

Enervate seems to be a spell of limited usefulness; we only ever see it being used when resuscitating someone from a Stunning Spell. Possibly it could be used when restoring consciousness to someone who has been knocked out by e.g. a blow to the head, but we never see such a use.

Questions

1. Why choose "Enervate" for the spell name? Someone who is enervated is weak and listless, the opposite of the spell's effect.

Greater Picture

The word "enervate" is frequently used incorrectly. Perhaps it sounds misleadingly enlivening. This common error was pointed out by Doris Wilgus (played by Barbra Streisand) in "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970).