Middle English Dictionary Entry
spring n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spring n. Also springe, (SWM or early) sprung, (early) sprincg & (in names) sprink, sprinc, springges-, springke-, spreng(e)-, spren- & (error) swring; pl. springes, springen, sprenges, (early) springas. |
| Etymology | OE spring, spryng. For other forms cp. OE of-spring, -sprinc(g; up-spring, -sprinc; will-spryng, wel-spreng, wyll-sprengum. Some senses influenced by ME springen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spring, natural fountain; the source of a spring; a stream of water coming from a spring; also fig.; (b) ~ water, water from a spring; -- used fig.; ~ welle, a spring; also fig.; welle ~, q.v.; (c) the tide of the sea; ~ of the se, heigh ~; ~ flod, the high tide associated with the new moon and the full moon, spring tide; also fig.; (d) a source, beginning, an origin; a source or an origin of something; ~ and welle, the source, model.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)36/196 : Innen hire wæs se rihte spryng þære lifes welle.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)581 : Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede, And reyn gette dun on euerilk stede.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)191 : In four sprunges [vr. welle springes] the tonnes liggeth..The hete withynne, water withoute.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6239 : With the Nimphes..Upon the spring of freisshe welles Sche schop to duelle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)167b/b : In þise hiȝe mounteyns is snowe alwaies..and hedes of Ryuers and springes of welles.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1314 : In middes þe land he sagh a spring Of a well.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)292/4 : Þere arose..a sprynggynge and wellinge op of wateres and floodes..of fresshe ryvers & spryngez.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)97/32 : To Ioy he is takyn..in þe spryngis of endles & tru Ioy is myrthyd.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)470 : Sprynge, of a welle: Scaturigo, scatebra.
- (?a1450) Lond.Charterhouse in Archaeol.58300 : Est fro þe hous..begynniþ þe v spring & it rennyþ in a goter of ston.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1984 : Thys hous..is the moder of tydynges, As the see of welles and of sprynges.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)17467 : In þat ylke dale was dyȝt a well..And þore scho and hyr damsell..mad a spryng þat fro yt fell.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)2/32 : Delve doun..tyl þou fynde vij sprynges of watyr of grace, þat is, vij ȝiftes of þe holy gost.
- (1453) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)356 : The said Maire and Cominalte arne possessed..of a Conduyt hede wyth diverse Springes of water gedered and conveyed in to the same.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.15.9b : Watir wile renne out fro þe springe of a stinkinde welle.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)39/13 : I will tell and shewe oute by many clere ryuers and cristallyn sprynges and by the vnchangeable founteynes of my courage.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)137/23 : Vmqwyle in reynys þer falle thundrys and lyghtenyng, and ryueris and spryngis bolne.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)153/4 : Spryngis boyle owte of þe erth.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)13/152 : Brokes and rivers proceden from their springes.
b
- c1350(940) Chart.in Birch Cart.Sax.2.472 : Erest of elde dich above stibbe, þanne endlangweies on strete, so bi strete on holedene endlangdenes to swringwellen [read: springwellen].
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)433 : Thou that myster has of grace, go to this spring-welle; Whoso help has of hir sal neuer go to helle.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)100b : Greet profight hit is to a citee þat haþ spring welle wiþ-ynne þe walles closed.
- c1450 Dice(1) (Frf 16)374 : Hyt were ful harde for my lewdenesse to telle The worshippe and the thryfty gouernaunce Of yow that ben the verray sprynge welle Of al manhode.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)251/2 : Þei þat arn in ground of mercy haue springe-watyr of grace & of pyte.
- a1500(?c1400) At a sprynge (Magd-O 60)1 : At a sprynge-wel vnder a þorn..Þer by-syde stant a mayde.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1070 : Thanne shal she [moon] been euene at the fulle alway And spryng flood lasten bothe nyght and day.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)115a/b : Alwey in þe newe mone þe spring of þe see is hiest and also in þe fulle mone.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)157a/b : When þe mone is fourtene daies olde and atte þe ful, þan efte is þe see ful in his hiest spring [L augmento].
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)193/20 : Ȝe mowe flowe in sprynge-flood of vertuys, hye vp to þe hyll of heuen.
- (1470) Paston2.585 : At hye spryngys the see brekyth yn to the pasturs and destroyeth the pasture.
- (?a1500) MSS Montagu in HMC2 : Wytheinne haven: Wher so evere hit be, one the prym eve, the spryng ys at the hyest.
d
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)45/474 : Of al þet uuel iþe world..ich am of þe sprunges þe an þet hit meast of springeð.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)19/146 : Ure lahen, ure bileaue, & ure ley hefde lahe sprung.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.387 : Deedly synnes..ben chief and spryngen [vrr. sprynge, sprynges, spryngynges] of alle othere synnes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.96 : I wolde mene The eldest sone of the noble kyng, Henri the firþe, of knyȝthood welle & spryng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1710 : Ouide..of poetis was þe spring & welle.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.MG (Hnt HM 111)88 : Of al vertu, thow art the spryng & welle.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)251/9 : All þis is pyte, a spryng of grace, þe secunde ȝyfte of þe holy gost.
- a1456 Marmaduke SSecr.(Ashm 59)218/10 : Þe hye polecye of þe prince consell..causeþe all, and is þe first spring and welle and begynniyng principal.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)139/12 : Athenes, welle of sapience and springe of high doctrines of philosophye.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)25/20 : God..examinith all thingis, of whome comith all conynge, as the sprynge, the foundamente, the roote, and the stronge medicyn which purgith the spirite.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)70/4 : O lady, full of socoure, spryng of conforte, [etc.].
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)112 : Thes ij wesselles of arteries & waynes that have ther sprynges from the be gynnynge as fro the harte to the lyver.
2.
(a) A twig, branch; also fig.; a switch or rod; vine ~, ?branches of a grapevine; (b) a shoot, sprout, or scion; a small tree, seedling, sapling; also in fig. context [last quot.]; also, offspring; an offspring; (c) a plantation of young trees, copse; new growth in a forest, undergrowth; (d) sprouting of the beard or pubic hair; nether berd ~; (e) ?a plant of the genus Euphorbia, spurge; ?error for sparage n.; ~ wort [OE spring-wyrt], prob. the wild caper or caper spurge Euphorbia lathyris; (f) the vernal season.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)247b/a : Þe droppyng þat cleueth to spring [L virgis] and to spray is white & clene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27380 : Quilk ar þaa sinnes þat scrift sal scau I sal þam recken..Wit þair springes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.41 : Who-so spareth þe sprynge [vr. ȝerde] spilleth his children.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)2130 : Ne lef on tre ne spryng on spray May ben lich þi swete face.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.443 : Of these [trees] take ȝe now springes thre.
- a1500 By thys fyre (Chet 6680)p.2 : Here kutte I my vyne springe.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.127.3 : Thi sones as the newe sprenges [vr. sprengingis; WB(1): braunchis; L novellæ] of olyue trees.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4331 : I am ful like..To hym that caste in erthe his seede, And hath ioie of the newe spryng Whanne it greneth in the gynnyg And is also faire and fresh of flour.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)39/6 : Þere cam out a tre in þe myddil of þe cercle wiþ a ȝong spryng comynge out bisyde þe tre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)470 : Sprynge, of a tre or plante: Planta, plantula.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)36/473 : Þer stonde a litil spryng in a place, whoyþer it be of an ok [or] of ani oþer tre.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.114 : Thanne was he glad..that of his Awncestris swich A spring scholde comen.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.325 : Whil a tre is a smal spryng, it may ben bowyd as men wil han it.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11208 : It falliþ in euery þing Feble seed feble al þe spring, And not so of men allone, But of beestis euerychone.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)128/4 : 'That tree to sette, fayn wolde I lerne'..'thou muste sette thy werke on grounde siker and good, accordaunt to thy springes.'
c
- (1396-7) *Acc.R.Gt.Totham : [Farmer of manor has destroyed] la spryng ejusdem subbosci.
- (1399) Doc.York in Sur.Soc.35132 : Pro xxj rodis de hegyng circa le spring in Langwath, 21 d.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)398 : Ȝe sellyn wodd aftir wodde..Bothe þe oke & þe assche & all þat þer growes; Þe spyres & þe ȝonge sprynge ȝe spare to ȝour children.
- (a1467) Paston2.327 : As touchyng the hurt of spryng in the wode by beestes, þerof haue þei day til þe next court.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)119a : A Sprynge of wode: virgultum.
- (1482) RParl.6.224a : The same subgetts mought not..enclose their seid grounde to save the spryng of their Wood so felled..the same spryng hath be..distroyed bothe with Bests and Catalx.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)69b/a : In tyme of puberte, of þe neþir berd springe, þaym schameþ noȝt to be sene naked & bare.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)834 : Of berde vnnethe hadde he no thyng, For it was in the first spryng.
e
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)557/42 : Burneta, i. sprungwurt.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)28 : Þei [boars] wroot so depe in þe grounde til þei fynde þe Rootes of þe feerme [read: feerne] and of þe spryng [vr. spurge; F esparge].
f
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)9927 : Þe thrid colour..As Rose rede es in spring, And semes als a brinand thing.
3.
Sunrise, daybreak, dawn; ~ of (the, a) dai, dai(es ~; ~ of the dauninge, the beginning of dawn; ~ of ecate, the waxing of the moon; ~ of mone (bemes, the rising of the moon; ~ of the sonne, sunrise; also, the region where the sun rises, the east; sonne ~, the region where the sun rises.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3513 : Þe beste red ys..þat we be on armes diȝte & to-morȝe on þe spryng of þe day Euene to þe pauyllouns take þe way.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judith 10.11 : She cam doun þe hil aboute spring [WB(2): the risynge; vr. spryngyng; L ortum] of þe day.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.14.15 : The kyng roose in the heeiȝist spring of day [WB(2): moost eerli; L primo diluculo].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2852 : Til I se the daies spring, I sette slep noght at a risshe.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)49.2 : God of goddes, lauerd, spake he, And þe erthe he kalled to se, Fra sonne springe to setelgange.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3595 : Riȝth in þe dayes sprynge [LinI: day spryng] Tholomeus on hem com fleiȝeynge.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.12/19 : The fame of this place schall attayne frome the spryng of the sunne to the goynge downe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.585 : Odde eyron in sprynge Of Echates [L luna crescente] vnder thyn hen sittynge Do putte.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1176 : Ane ouirsyb maryage hafe we made In þe sprynge of þis mone.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)56/2 : Avrora is the spring of the day.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)94 : Jhesu þe nyght turnes to þe day, þe dawyng intil spryng.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.6 head. : To knowe the spryng of the dawenyng and the ende of the evenyng, the whiche ben called the two crepuscules.
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)313/230 : Pinpernolle..schulde be gaderyd in sprynge of day.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)19/10 : Þese..puples..inhabited mech of þe est side of þe world, fro þe spring of þe sunne onto hem of Fenise.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)49/35 : In the same howse semede to go forth as it had bene þe springe of a day, and vnder þat day springe apperede a clowde..Oute of which come a grete voyce.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)142/4 : Aboute the sprynge [CQ(1): dawnynge] of the day, whanne the sune shewyth his furst light..I fonde myself sodanly awaked.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)195 : At the first spryng or risyng of the moone beames, sodainly Arrectis, serpentis so named..to the castels evenflowed vnnumerable.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)498 : At the first spryng and shynyng of the Moone..the tree aunswer in greeke tunge.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)510 : I was redy at the first spryng of the Sonne.
4.
(a) A leap; a lively dance; a dance tune; (b) a blow with a sword; also, a certain fencing stroke, ?a lunge; (c) a carbuncle, an ulcer, a pustule; (d) a clock spring; (e) a bird snare [cp. sprenge n. (b) & OHG springa trap].
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1235 : Ther saugh I..Pipers of the Duche tonge, To lerne love-daunces, sprynges, Reyes.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.58 : Y dyd ryȝt noȝt to hym to day, But pyped hym a spryng.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)15 : As she sodenly made a sprynge, the childe fill oute of hir arme.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2290 : Roland ȝaf a strok with mayn to..þe kyng & clef ys body euene a-twayn with þat stronge spryng.
- a1500 The man that wol (Hrl 3542)p.308 : A rake with a spryng there thou hym abyde, Falle in with an hauke and stride noȝte to wyde..A spryng and a rownde and stap in wyth, Spare noȝth an hauke yf he lye in thy kyth.
c
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)35/1 : Gif men wylle sprincg on ȝesitte, ȝenim þanne anes trimesses wæȝe..lecge on þan stede þe se spring on ȝesittan wolde, [etc.].
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)191/20 : Wið springas & wið toborstene lice nim þisse wyrte leaf.
d
- (1428) Proc.Privy C.3.289 : Item, for amendyng of the spryng of the barell [of a clock], vj s. viij d.
- (1469-72) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31528 : Payed to Thomas Crowchier for amendyng of a Claper and a spryng and other gere for the Clok, viij d.
e
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)169a/a : Many briddes and foules haunten þat place, and þere fore þer ben many foulers þat liggen and setten nettes, springes, and grenes [L retia et tendiculas].
5.
As term of association: ~ of lecherie, a band of lechers; ~ of teles, a flock of teals.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A Sprynge of teles.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)747 : Ye xall se a sprynge of Lechery Þat to me attende.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A Sprynge of telis.
6.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.140].
Associated quotations
a
- (1209) Select Pleas Forest in Seld.Soc.139 : Rogerus Springehose.
- (1224) Close R.Tower 1648 : Ricardus Sprengehose.
- (1279) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88262 : Henrico Spryng.
- (1295) Plea R.Edw.I in WSAS 729 : Ralph Sprenghose.
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 157 : Geoffrey Spring.
- (1318) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)441 : John de Sprenham.
- (1327) Nickname in SAU 63185 : Joh. Sprynk.
- (1332) Nickname in SAU 63185 : Joh. Sprinc.
- a1350 Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.210 : Robertus ad Springe.
- (1417) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)415 : John Sprenge.
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.477 : De Laurentio Spryng.
- (1432) *Acc.Grantchester : Item, for a..haltyre to Spryng..x d.
b
- (1221) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)244 : Springwelle.
- (1272) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)330 : Heselspring.
- (1291) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)268 : Springgesfeud.
- (1292) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)268 : Springkefeld.
- (1299) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)83 : Bosci dict. Spryng.
- (1299) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)83 : Venella voc. Sprynges lane.
- (1317) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)290 : Wellspringdale.
- (1413) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)546 : Spryngwelle.
- (1428) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)268 : Springfeld.
- (1441) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)269 : Spryngefeldebernes.