To spring upon

To spring upon
Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. i. [imp. {Sprang} (spr[a^]ng) or {Sprung} (spr[u^]ng); 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. spe`rchesqai to hasten. Cf. {Springe}, {Sprinkle}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To leap; to bound; to jump. [1913 Webster]

The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. --Philips. [1913 Webster]

2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot. [1913 Webster]

And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert. [1913 Webster]

Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring. --Otway. [1913 Webster]

4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Till well nigh the day began to spring. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth. --Job xxxviii. 27. [1913 Webster]

Do not blast my springing hopes. --Rowe. [1913 Webster]

O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle. [1913 Webster]

[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

8. To grow; to thrive; to prosper. [1913 Webster]

What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring? --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

{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 {To spring upon}, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • spring upon — index attack Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • spring upon — Synonyms and related words: ambush, astonish, bushwhack, catch at, catch off guard, catch unawares, come from behind, come upon unexpectedly, do the unexpected, drop in on, fasten upon, jump, jump at, pounce upon, pull up short, scramble for,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • spring upon — attack, jump on …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Spring — (spr[i^]ng), v. i. [imp. {Sprang} (spr[a^]ng) or {Sprung} (spr[u^]ng); 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. spe rchesqai to hasten.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring — Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring back — Spring Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring balance — Spring Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring beam — Spring Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring beauty — Spring Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring bed — Spring Spring, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See {Spring}, v. i.] 1. A leap; a bound; a jump. [1913 Webster] The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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