Spring \Spring\, v. i. [imp. Sprangor Sprung; p. p.
Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing.]
[AS. springan; akin
to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw.
springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. ? to hasten. Cf. Springe,
Sprinkle.]
1. To leap; to bound; to jump.
The mountain stag that springs From height to
height, and bounds along the plains. --Philips.
2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity;
to dart; to shoot.
And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof.
--Dryden.
3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert.
Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring.
--Otway.
4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its
elastic power.
5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to
become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank,
sometimes springs in seasoning.
6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin
to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams
from their source, and the like; -often followed by up,
forth, or out.
Till well nigh the day began to spring. --Chaucer.
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to
cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth.
--Job xxxviii.
27.
Do not blast my springing hopes. --Rowe.
O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born.
--Pope.
7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to
result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle.
[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy,
but with fear yet linked. --Milton.
8. To grow; to prosper.
What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose
command we perish, and we spring? --Dryden.
To spring at, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a
leap.
To spring forth, to leap out; to rush out.
To spring in, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste.
To spring on or upon, to leap on; to rush on with haste
or violence; to assault.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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