Definitions for: Spurn

[v] reject with contempt; "She spurned his advances"

Webster (1913) Definition: Spurn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spurned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Spurning.] [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over,
AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG.
spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr.
sphur to jerk, to push. [root]171. See Spur.]
1. To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick.

[The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup.
--Chaucer.

I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. --Shak.

2. To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to
treat with contempt.

What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of
knighthood, I disdain and spurn. --Shak.

Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they
find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid
them at their master's feet. --Locke.

Spurn, v. i.
1. To kick or toss up the heels.

The miller spurned at a stone. --Chaucer.

The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns. --Gay.

2. To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make
contemptuous opposition or resistance.

Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image.
--Shak.

Spurn, n.
1. A kick; a blow with the foot. [R.]

What defence can properly be used in such a
despicable encounter as this but either the slap or
the spurn? --Milton.

2. Disdainful rejection; contemptuous tratment.

The insolence of office and the spurns That patient
merit of the unworthy takes. --Shak.

3. (Mining) A body of coal left to sustain an overhanding
mass.

Synonyms: disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, turn down

See Also: brush off, rebuff, repel, snub

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat

Related Resources:
animlas that start with p
animals starting with u