Forms: 1 spurnan, spornan, 3–6 sporn(e, 3–7 spurne (5–6 spourne, 6 Sc. spwrne), 4– spurn (4 spourn, 5 Sc. spwrn, 6 spvrn). [OE. spurnan, spornan str. v. (pa. t. spearn, pa. pple. -spornen), = OS. spurnan, ON. *sporna (pa. t. sparn), related to the weak vbs. OHG. spornôn, ON. sporna, OHG. spurnan, -en, ON. spyrna, and OHG. (fir)spirnen, ON. sperna, MSw. and Sw. spjärna. The stem is prob. that of SPUR sb.1 In OE. the simple verb is less frequent than the compound ætspurnan.]
I. intr. † 1. To strike against something with the foot; to trip or stumble. Also fig. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Psalter (Thorpe), xc. 12. Þe læs þu fræcne on stan fote spurne.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 186. A child, ȝif hit spurneð o summe þing, oðer hurteð him, me bet þet þing þet hit hurteð on.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7710. As he rod an honteþ & par auntre is hors spurnde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3575. Quen þat [a man] sua bicums ald,… þan es eth þe fote to spurn.
1388. Wyclif, Jer. xxxi. 9. Y schal brynge them … in a riȝtful weie, thei shulen not spurne therynne.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2862. I shall make hem spurn, & have a sore falle.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. viii. 525. Lest if … the hors were left to his fredom … he schulde be in perel forto the oftir spurne.
1549–62. Sternhold & H., Ps. xci. 12. So that thy foote shall never channce to spurne at any stone.
1603. Proph. of T. Rymour (Bann. Cl.), 12. Where the water runnes bright and sheene Thair shal many steides spurne.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. xxi. (1840), 218. And their legs so stand in men’s way that few can go by them without spurning at them.
1714. Gay, Trivia, II. 211. How can ye Laugh, to see the Damsel spurn, Sink in your Frauds and her green Stocking mourn?
1734. Arbuthnot, etc., Mart. Scriblerus, viii. (1756), 39. The maid … ran up stairs, but spurning at the dead body, fell upon it in a swoon.
† b. In proverbial contrast with speed. Chiefly Sc.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., clxxxi. Quhen thai wald faynest speid, that thai may spurn.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxix. 15. I sporne þer I was wonte to spede.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, II. 362. That garris thaim spwrn quhen thai suld speid.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 226. Quha spurnis airlie cumis lidder speid.
† 2. To strike or thrust with the foot; to kick (at something). Obs.
c. 1400[?]. Lydg., Æsop’s Fab., i. 52. [The cock] On a smal dunghill … Gan to scrape and sporn.
15[?]. Smith & his Dame, 301, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 212. Than she spvrned at hym so, That hys shynnes bothe two In sonder she there brake.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 3 b. Who spurneth not at a dead dogge?
1598. Mucedorus, Induct. 32. Where I may see them wallow in there blood, To spurne at armes and legges quite shiuered off [etc.].
1690. [see SPRUNT v.]
1740. Somerville, Hobbinol, II. 295. His Iron Fist descending crush’d his Skull, And left him spurning on the bloody Floor.
fig. a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 81. This prince was a capitaine against whome fortune never frowned nor mischance once spurned.
† b. In allusive phrases. Obs. (Cf. KICK v.1 1 c.)
c. 1390. Chaucer, Truth, 11. Bywar þerfore to spurne aȝeyns an al.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cres., 475. Quhy spurnis thow aganis the Wall?
1483. Vulgaria, 26. It is a foly to sporn ageyns the pryk.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 70/2. I purpose not to spurne againste a prick.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 116. Folly to spurne or kycke against the harde wall.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 205. What profit then … Against the prick to seeme to spurne?
1605. Camden, Rem. (1623), 268. Folly it is to spurne against a pricke.
[1816. Scott, Old Mort., Introd. Waste not your strength by spurning against a castle wall.]
† c. To strike at with a weapon. Obs.–1
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4744. The grekes … With speris full dispitiously spurnit at the yates.
† d. To dash; to drive quickly. Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 786. Now aithire stoure on þar stedis strikis to-gedire, Spurnes out spakly with speris in hand.
c. 1440. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4706. Thre grete wawes in spurned. Ibid., 6796. Þe shipp agayn to land spurned.
3. fig. To kick against or at something disliked or despised; to manifest opposition or antipathy, esp. in a scornful or disdainful manner.
(a) 1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 17 b. Than they wyll sporne agaynst god,… and vtterly refuse and forsake the batayle of vertue.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Owen Glendour, xiii. Was none so bold durst once agaynst me spurne.
1605. Stow, Ann. (ed. 2), 683. Wel knowing that the Queene would spurne against the conclusions.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard T., N. T., 145. it is no boot for thee to struggle and spurne against my almighty power.
(b) 1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI., G vi. They that be good wyl beare, and not spourne at the preachers; they that be faultye … must amende, and neyther spourne, nor wynse, nor whyne.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 203. Will you then Spurne at his Edict, and fulfill a Mans?
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1321. Spurning at their bread and rice which was given them for their daily entertainement.
1660. Extr. State Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 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.
a. 1781. R. Watson, Philip III. (1839), 119. They spurned at danger, and made several vigorous sallies on the enemy.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs of Aristoph., Introd. p. cxi. That parent required sacrifices of him, at which his genius evidently spurned.
II. trans. † 4. To strike (the foot) against something. Obs.
a. 1300. E. E. Ps. xc. 12. Þat thurgh hap þou ne spurn þi fote til stane.
c. 1430. Hymns Virgin (1867), 43. Lest þou spurne þi foot at a stoon.
5. To strike or tread (something) with the foot; to trample or kick.
In later use freq. with implication of contempt.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 72. The ground he sporneth and he tranceth.
a. 1500. Lyttel Geste of Robyn Hode, III. clxi. He sporned the dore with his fote.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 295. The people came running to it, jobbed it in with their daggers, and spurned it with their fete.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XIV. vii. 15. The foresaid governour … they layed at and spurned with their heeles.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 20. With their Feet they spurne the yeelding sands.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 335. Wounded, he rears aloft,… then bleeding spurns the Ground.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, III. v. 36. When … the hind shall turn Fierce on her hunters, he the prostrate foe may spurn In second fight.
1810. Scott, Lady of Lake, I. v. With flying foot the heath he spurned.
1848. Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art, 219. Mary is spurning with her feet a casket of jewels.
1875. Longf., Masque of Pandora, IV. With one touch of my … feet, I spurn the solid Earth.
b. With advs. or advb. phrases, as away, down, off, up, etc. Also fig.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 608. He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe.
c. 1450. Merlin, xiii. 199. Galashin with his fote spurned his body to grounde.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 264. Auaunce thy spirituall courage, and sporne away all dulnesse & slouth.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. i. 83. You spurne me hence, and he will spurne me hither.
1609. Rowlands, Knaue of Clubbes (Hunterian Cl.), 6. Then with her feete she spurn’d them out of bed.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 30. The Pope treading on his necke, and spurning off his Crowne with his foot.
1700. Dryden, Cock & Fox, 85. If, spurning up the Ground, he sprung a Corn.
1727. Swift, Country Post, Wks. 1751, III. I. 178. The grave-stones of John Fry, Peter How, and Mary d’Urfey were spurned down.
1793. T. Beddoes, Demonstr. 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, J. Howe, ii. 30. There is no barrier to such inter-communion,… which the genuine spirit of charity will not spurn down.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 360. The few who were so luxurious as to wear rude socks of untanned hide spurned them away.
1878. 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.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, vii. 64. Æfter þæs mædenes spræce þe hine spearn mid wordum.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3533. We sall neuer spise ȝow ne sporne in speche ne in dede.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, 44. Þat, vanite spisyd & spurnyd, to trewth vnpartyngly we draw.
1501. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 155. He … wyll abyde by yt for his dede,… & so will shew to all men that spurns him any wher.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 98 b. Well knowyng, that the Quene would spurne and impugne the conclusions.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., IV. ii. 14. The more she spurnes my loue, The more it growes.
1635. Quarles, Embl., V. 13. O how my soul would spurn this ball of clay, And loathe the dainties of earth’s painful pleasure.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 339. The pleasing Pleiades appear, And springing upward spurn the briny Seas.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, II. 117. When he suspected that he was invited to be exhibited, he constantly spurned the invitation.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, liii. I came back, weary and lame, to spurn your gift.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), II. 144. Every offer tending to conciliation had been spurned.
Hence Spurned ppl. a.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, V. 278. He … draws … sweet honey out of spurned or dreaded weeds.
