spurnn.1
/spəːn/, U.S. /spərn/ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking > stumbling > a stumble
spurnc1390
stumble1547
snappera1572
trip1681
stoiter1838
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > [noun] > falling down or from erect position (animates) > stumbling and falling
spurn?a1500
c1390 (?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 581 He hedde no space spedly him-seluen forto do him no dispit þe sporn was his owne.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4329 For sco foluand fand a spurn, Sco waited him wit a werr turn.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4324 Qua folus lang, wit-outen turn, Oft his fote sal find a spurn.
?a1500 Chester Pl. i. 136 Beware yow of this Chayre, lest that yow have a fowle spurne.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 150 Nocht wittand weill quhome to that tyid to turne, For lidder speid cumis of airlie spurne.
a. to hold (a) spurn, to make successful resistance. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > resist > successfully
hold one's ownc1330
to hold (a) spurna1400
to fight off1787
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19414 Wit spece þai gaue him mani turn, Bot nan gain him moght hald spurn [Gött. a spurn].
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > a ride or spell of riding or excursion > rapid
spurnc1330
racec1440
tantivya1658
scurry1824
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12759 Wawayn..byheld þat he cam so gret a spurne, He had no leyser his hors to turne.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun]
fightc893
coursec1325
stourc1325
acounterc1330
meetingc1330
setc1330
showera1375
brusha1400
semblya1400
hosting1422
poynyec1425
conflictc1440
militancea1460
grate1460
rencounter1471
chaplea1500
flitea1513
concourse?1520
concursion1533
rescounter1543
spurnc1560
rencontrea1572
discourse1573
action1579
combat1582
opposition1598
do1915
c1560 Hunting Cheviot in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1889) III. vi. 310 At Otterburn begane this spurne, vppone a Monnynday.
3. figurative.c1430 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 1 He gafe my mayden-hed a spurne.1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Fiijv By this meanes they gaue so shrewd a spurne at the estate of this realme that it feleth it yet.1612 G. Wither Prince Henries Obseq. in Juvenilia (1633) 297 'Tis true, I know, Death with an equall spurn The lofty Turret and low Cottage beats.in combination.1676 Doctr. of Devils 196 The Magical Seals, &c., whereby men might be preserved Shot-free, and consequently Stick-free, Cane-free, Spurn-free, Kick-free.
a. A stroke with the foot; a kick.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [noun] > with the foot > kicking > a kick
spurna1300
kick1530
yark1581
wince1612
pote1781
funk1808
spang1863
leather1883
root1907
boot1942
hoof1985
a1300 Cursor Mundi 23780 Qua herd a caitiuer crachun, Þat will noght bide to giue a spurn?
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Harl.) lxx. 323 He lifte vp his foote, and gafe him a spurne aȝen þe brest.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes b iijv When a certain feloe had..geuen him a spurne on the shynne, as he was gooyng on his waye in the strete.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 59v A young man beeing peruerse in nature,..gaue Socrates a spurne.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 30 Hee should haue..many a spurne and kicke with the foot.
1679 C. Ness Distinct Disc. Antichrist 46 Is not this like one of the spurns or kicks of the beast?
a1745 J. Swift Remarks upon Bk. in Wks. (1762) X. 100 Like the sick old Lion in the Fable, who..took nothing so much to Heart, as to find himself at last insulted by the Spurn of an Ass.
1851 A. Helps Compan. Solitude iv. 46 Alnaschar,..who with an imaginary spurn..disposed at once of all his splendid fortunes.
b. The act of kicking or spurning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [noun] > with the foot > kicking
spurningc1384
kicking1552
spurn1641
calcitration1651
funking1821
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 90 Where under..the trample and spurne of all the other Damned..they shall remaine in that plight for ever.
1649 R. Baxter Saints Everlasting Rest (new ed.) iv. iii The spurn of a man's foot destroys all their labour.
1842 Fraser's Mag. 26 479 The sweep of the arms and the spurn of the legs must always be made under the water.
1893 F. Thompson Poems 49 With flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet.
4. The act of treating with disdain or contemptuous rejection; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > [noun] > contemptuous rejection
explosion1546
spurn1604
exploding1617
spurninga1853
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 75 The insolence of office, and the spurnes That patient merrit of th' vnworthy takes. View more context for this quotation
1646 W. Jenkyn Reformation's Remora 9 Do the rowlings of a fathers bowels deserve our spurn?
a1680 S. Charnock Several Disc. Existence of God (1682) 528 'Tis a spurn at God's Soveraignty, and a slight of his Goodness.
1875 J. R. Lowell in N. Amer. Rev. 120 370 There is an exulting spurn of earth in it, as of a soul just loosed from its cage.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spurnn.2
/spəːn/, U.S. /spərn/ 1. † a. The beak of a war-galley. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > fore part of vessel > [noun] > any part in front of stem > beak of galley
hornc1275
snouta1387
beak1550
spurn1553
beak-head1579
spur1604
rostrum1659
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. iv. f. 41v They came agaynste her with two gallies ouerwhart vpon her side: wherof the one stroke full with her spurne.
b. A sharp projection or edge on a horseshoe. Now dialect or Obsolete. (Cf. sprun n.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > [noun] > horseshoe > parts of horseshoe
calkin1445
sponge1566
stopping1566
calk1587
spurn1696
quarter1727
welt1758
heel1770
cock1789
cork1806
seating1831
toe-weight1901
1696 W. Hope Suppl. Horsemanship xxxiii. 61 in tr. J. de Solleysel Parfait Mareschal He makes him a pair of hinder Shoos with long Spurns or plates before the Toes.
1834 Knowlson Cattle Doctor (1843) 154 Some horses cut with the spurn of the foot, and some with the heel.
1849 Teesdale Gloss. 123 Spurn. The toe of a horse's shoe, when sharpened in time of frost, is so called.
2. An outward-growing root or rootlet; one of the main roots of a tree. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > root
spurn1601
spura1616
sprun1684
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 368 These Trees loue..to haue the superfluous spurnes rid away from the root.
1614 G. Markham 2nd Bk. Eng. Husbandman ii. iv. 71 From the spurnes of the roote will arise new Spiers.
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts 11 195 The butt or stem of an ash-tree, having the spurns left to it in felling.
3.
a. A slanting prop or stay; a spur or spur-stone.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > prop
stipera1000
prop1440
shorec1440
lega1475
stut1559
spurn1620
stilt1633
Dutchman1859
1620–1 in North Riding Soc. (1885) III. 110 That a Wickham man be committed to the House of Corr[ectio]n for cutting downe a windemille spurne.
1847 in J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words (Linc.)
1866 E. Peacock Eng. Church Furnit. 180 (note) The fastenings or wooden supports—spurns, as a Lincolnshire man would say, of the ‘shafte’ or May-pole.
b. Mining. (See quots.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > pillar or area of unworked material
forbar?15..
pillar1591
whole1728
stalch1747
post1793
stenting1812
rib1818
stook1826
man-of-war1835
spurn1837
staple1839
barrier1849
shaft pillar1855
barrier-pillar1881
stoop1881
stump1881
1837 L. Hebert Engin. & Mech. Encycl. I. 375 The spern, a small piece of coal left as a support to many tons above, which fall when this is taken away.
1860 Eng. & Foreign Mining Gloss. (new ed.) 79 Spurns, small ties or connections, left between the coals hanging and the ribs and pillars.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 233 Spurns, narrow pillars or webs of coal between each holing, not cut away until the last thing before withdrawing the sprags.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
spurnv.1
/spəːn/, U.S. /spərn/ I. intransitive.† 1. † b. In proverbial contrast with speed. Chiefly Scottish.† 2. figurative.1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxxxi This prince was a capitaine against whome fortune neuer frowned nor mischance once spurned.† b. In allusive phrases. Obsolete. (Cf. kick v.1 1c.)† c. To strike at with a weapon. Obsolete. rare.† d. To dash; to drive quickly. Obsolete.
a. To strike against something with the foot; to trip or stumble. Also figurative. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge [verb (intransitive)] > against an obstacle with the foot
spurnc1000
offendc1382
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > stumble
spurnc1000
stumpc1250
misstepc1300
stummer13..
stumblec1325
snappera1352
thrumble1362
snatera1400
tripc1440
stut1574
stomber1588
flounder1592
strumble1681
plunther1841
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > strike with specific thing [verb (intransitive)] > with the foot > kick
spurnc1000
regibbe?c1225
potea1350
kickc1386
rependc1440
spur1590
recalcitrate1611
calcitrate1623
funkc1707
root1890
scissor-kick1921
c1000 Ags. Psalter (1835) xc. 12 Þe læs þu fræcne on stan fote spurne.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 141 Þe child ȝef hit spurneð onsumme þing. oðer hurteð me beateð þet ilke þing þet hit hurt on.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 7710 As he rod an honteþ & par auntre is hors spurnde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3575 Quen þat [a man] sua bicums ald,..þan es eth þe fote to spurn.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Jer. xxxi. 9 Y schal brynge them..in a riȝtful, weie, thei shulen not spurne therynne.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 525 Lest if..the hors were left to his fredom..he schulde be in perel forto the oftir spurne.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2862 I shall make hem spurn, & have a sore falle.
1549–62 T. Sternhold & J. Hopkins Whole Bk. Psalms xci. 12 So that thy foote shall never chaunce to spurne at any stone.
1603 Prophecie of T. Rymour in Whole Prophesie Scotl. sig. Bij Where the water runnes bright and sheene, Thair shal many steides spurne.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iv. xxi. 206 And their legges so stand in mens way that few can go by them without spurning at them.
1716 J. Gay Trivia ii. 34 How can ye Laugh, to see the Damsel spurn, Sink in your Frauds and her green Stocking mourn?
1741 Mem. Martinus Scriblerus viii. 32 in A. Pope Wks. II The maid..ran up stairs, but spurning at the dead body, fell upon it in a swoon.
ΚΠ
1423 Kingis Quair clxxxi Quhen thai wald faynest speid, that thai may spurn.
c1440 York Myst. xxxix. 15 I sporne þer I was wonte to spede.
a1500 Ratis Raving ii. 362 That garris thaim spwrn quhen thai suld speid.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 226 Quha spurnis airlie cumis lidder speid.
a. To strike or thrust with the foot; to kick (at something). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?c1400 J. Lydgate Æsop's Fab. i. 52 [The cock] On a smal dunghill..Gan to scrape and sporn.
?1565 Smyth that forged New Dame sig. B.iii Than she spurned at hym so That his shynnes bothe two In sonder she there brake.
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Bodl. copy) Ep. to Printer sig. 3 Who spurneth not at a dead dogge.
1598 Mucedorus sig. A2v Where I may see them wallow in there blood, To spurne at armes and legges quite shiuered off [etc.].
1690 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. I. 216 Those twins spurned and sprunted in her womb.
1740 W. Somervile Hobbinol ii. 295 His Iron Fist descending crush'd his Skull, And left him spurning on the bloody Floor.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (intransitive)] > resist > resist something inevitable or irresistible
to kick against the pricks (spur, goad)c1380
spurnc1390
c1390 G. Chaucer Truth 11 Bywar þerfore to spurne aȝeyns an al.
1483 Vulgaria abs Terencio (T. Rood & T. Hunte) sig. qij It is a foly to sporn ageyns the pryk.
a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 475 in Poems (1981) 126 Quhy spurnis thow aganis the wall.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 70/2 I purpose not to spurne againste a prick.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. v. sig. H2 Foly it is to spurne against a pricke.
1573 T. Tusser Points Huswifrie (new ed.) f. 26v, in Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) What profit then..against the prick to seeme to spurne?
1614 W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 306 Folly it is to spurne against a pricke.
1830 W. Scott Old Mortality Introd., in Tales of my Landlord (new ed.) I. p. vii Waste not your strength by spurning against a castle wall.]
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > stroke with weapon > strike with a weapon [verb (transitive)] > strike at
smitec1275
spurnc1540
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 4744 The grekes..With speris full dispitiously spurnit at the yates.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and violently
driveeOE
fallOE
reseOE
routOE
rashOE
swip?c1225
weothec1275
startlec1300
lushc1330
swapc1386
brusha1400
spurna1400
buschc1400
frushc1400
rushc1405
rushle1553
rouse1582
hurl1609
powder1632
slash1689
stave1819
tilt1831
bulge1834
smash1835
storm1837
stream1847
ripsnort1932
slam1973
a1400–50 Alexander 786 Now aithire stoure on þar stedis strikis to-gedire, Spurnes out spakly with speris in hand.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 6796 Þe shipp agayn to land spurned.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 4706 Thre grete wawes in spurned.
3. figurative. To kick against or at something disliked or despised; to manifest opposition or antipathy, esp. in a scornful or disdainful manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > reject contemptuously
spurnc1000
defyc1320
refusec1350
to kick against or ata1425
spurn1526
asperne1548
explodea1552
to cast (also throw) at one's heels1555
mock1558
foot1600
outscout1602
slighta1616
scout1710
stuff1955
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > scornfully
spurn1526
(a)
(b)1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 3rd Serm. sig. Gvi They that be good will beare, & not spurne at the preachers; they that be fautye they muste amende, and neyther spurne nor wynce, nor whine.1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. iv. 193 Wilt thou then Spurne at his edict, and fulfill a mans? View more context for this quotation1621 Knolles's Gen. Hist. Turkes (ed. 3) 1321 Spurning at their bread and rice which was giuen them for their daily entertainement.1661 in Extracts State Papers (Friends' Hist. Soc.) (1911) 2nd Ser. 120 Anabaptists..will make advantage of the first opportunity to fly out, and spurne att his Maiesties Gouerment.1753 H. Walpole in World No. 10 One must be an infidel indeed to spurn at such authority.a1781 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip III (1783) ii. 154 They spurned at danger, and made several vigorous sallies on the enemy.1839 T. Mitchell in Aristophanes Frogs Introd. p. cxi That parent required sacrifices of him, at which his genius evidently spurned.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Fi Than they wyll sporne agaynst god..and vtterly refuse & forsake the batayle of vertue.
1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Owen Glendower xiii Was none so bold durst once agaynst me spurne.
1605 J. Stow Annales (ed. 2) 683 Wel knowing that the Queene would spurne against the conclusions.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 145 It is no boot for thee to struggle, and spurne against my almighty power.
II. transitive.† 4. To strike (the foot) against something. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > impinge upon [verb (transitive)] > cause to impinge > the foot against an obstacle
spurna1300
offenda1382
a1300 Early Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter xc. 12 Þat thurgh hap þou ne spurn þi fote til stane.
c1430 Hymns Virgin (1867) 43 Lest þou spurne þi foot at a stoon.
5.
a. To strike or tread (something) with the foot; to trample or kick.In later use frequently with implication of contempt.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > strike with specific thing [verb (transitive)] > with the foot
spurn1390
funk1836
hoof1905
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 72 The ground he sporneth and he tranceth.
c1510 Gest Robyn Hode iii. clxi He sporned the dore with his fote.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccxcv The people came running to it, iobbed it in with their daggers, & spurned it with their fete.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xiv. vii. 15 The foresaid governour..they layed at and spurned with their heeles.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 20 With their Fleet [i.e. Feet] they spurne the yeelding sands.
1735 W. Somervile Chace iii. 335 Wounded, he rears aloft,..then bleeding spurns the Ground.
1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iii. v. 36 When..the hind shall turn Fierce on her hunters, he the prostrate foe may spurn In second fight.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 9 With flying foot the heath he spurned.
1848 A. Jameson Sacred & Legendary Art 219 Mary is spurning with her feet a casket of jewels.
1875 H. W. Longfellow Pandora iv With one touch of my..feet, I spurn the solid Earth.
b. With adverbs or adverbial phrases, as away, down, off, up, etc. Also figurative.
ΚΠ
c1386 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 608 He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xiii. 199 Galashin with his fote spurned his body to grounde.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. YYYviv Auaunce thy spirituall courage and sporne away all dulnesse and slouth.
1609 S. Rowlands Knaue of Clubbes (Hunterian Club) 6 Then with her feete she spurn'd them out of bed.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. i. 82 You spurne me hence, and he will spurne me hither. View more context for this quotation
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 30 The Pope treading on his necke, and spurning off his Crowne with his foot.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Cock & Fox in Fables 226 If spurning up the Ground, he sprung a Corn.
1727 Country-post in J. Swift et al. Misc. II. 290 The Gravestones of John Fry, Peter How, and Mary d'Urfey, were spurn'd down.
1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 110 It is said, that the statesman..is apt to spurn away the ladder by which he has mounted to power.
1836 H. Rogers Life J. Howe ii. 30 There is no barrier to such inter-communion,..which the genuine spirit of charity will not spurn down.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 360 The few who were so luxurious as to wear rude socks of untanned hide spurned them away.
1878 R. Browning Poets Croisic lii To learn..how fate could puff Heaven-high.., then spurn To suds so big a bubble in some huff.
6. To reject with contempt or disdain; to treat contemptuously; to scorn or despise.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > reject contemptuously
spurnc1000
defyc1320
refusec1350
to kick against or ata1425
spurn1526
asperne1548
explodea1552
to cast (also throw) at one's heels1555
mock1558
foot1600
outscout1602
slighta1616
scout1710
stuff1955
c1000 Ælfric Lives Saints vii. 64 Æfter þæs mædenes spræce þe hine spearn mid wordum.
a1400–50 Alexander 3533 We sall neuer spise ȝow ne sporne in speche ne in dede.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 44 Þat, vanite spisyd & spurnyd, to trewth vnpartyngly we draw.
1501 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) 155 He..wyll abyde by yt for his dede,..& so will shew to all men that spurns him any wher.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiiv Well knowyng, that the Quene would spurne and impugne the conclusions.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iv. ii. 14 The more she spurnes my loue, The more it growes. View more context for this quotation
1635 F. Quarles Emblemes v. xiii. 294 O how my soule would spurne this Ball of Clay, And loath the dainties of earths painfull pleasure!
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 132 The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upward spurn the briny Seas.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1770 I. 338 When he suspected he was invited to be exhibited, he constantly spurned the invitation.
1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son liii. 535 I came back, weary and lame, to spurn your gift.
1868 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1877) II. 144 Every offer tending to conciliation had been spurned.
Derivatives
spurned adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [adjective] > contemptuously rejected
exploded1563
deject1575
conculcate1583
scouted1810
spurned1850
1850 W. Wordsworth Prelude v. 118 He..draws..Sweet honey out of spurned or dreaded weeds.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† spurnv.2
Obsolete.
transitive. To spur; to urge or incite.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > motivate [verb (transitive)] > incite or instigate > urge on or incite
tar ona900
wheta1000
eggc1200
spura1225
aprick1297
ertc1325
sharpa1340
abaita1470
sharpen1483
to set (a person) forth1488
to set forth1553
egg1566
hound1571
shove?1571
edge1575
strain1581
spur1582
spurn1583
hag1587
edge1600
hist1604
switch1648
string1881
haik1892
goose1934
1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxvii. 1114 Here Moses meant to spurne forward the slothfulnesse of the Jewes.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Bb5v The Faery quickly raught His poynant speare, and sharply gan to spurne His fomy steed.
1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 80 To encourage the good, and with shame to spurne on the rest to amendment.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
† spurnv.3
Obsolete.
transitive. To spread or scatter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew
strew971
strayOE
strawc1175
instriec1420
streak?c1440
overstrewc1450
straw1549
bestrew1667
spurna1722
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 21 Farmer Bond..flung no dung, in the spurning or spreading it, into the furrows.
a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 30 Spurning is throwing it [sc. lime] abroad on the earth just before sowed.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
spurnv.4
1. intransitive. To serve as a prop or stay.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (intransitive)] > serve as a prop or stay
spurn1783
1783 J. Ogden Descr. Manchester 16 Sawing strong deal balks through the middle, and letting in oak spars to spurn at obtuse angles upward.
2. transitive. To prop or support with spurns.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [verb (transitive)] > prop
shore1340
undershore1393
prop1507
underpropa1535
crutch1641
rance1680
trig1711
spur1733
stut1808
spurn1865
scaffold1884
1865 Evening Standard 7 Feb. Several of the men as well as deceased neglected to sprag or spern their work.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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