spring English · revision 1772

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=816|origins=gem-pro *sprenganan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈspɹɪŋ/; /ˈspɹiŋ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is [[inh|enm|springen]], [[inh|ang|springan|t=to leap, burst forth]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) from [[gem-pro|*sprenganan]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) usually derived from [[ine-pro|*sprengʰ-]], a nasal form of a root meaning “to move, hasten”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) related to [[grc|σπέρχεσθαι|tr=spérkhesthai|t=to hurry]] and [[sa|स्पृहयति|tr=spṛháyati|t=desires eagerly]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Boutkan preferred a derivation from the root of [[sparse]].^(Etymonline) The noun is [[m|ang|spring|t=source of a stream]], from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD 2000) It is cognate with [[non|springa]], [[nl|springen]] and [[de|springen]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun: the source of a stream or river (816).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb: to leap or burst forth, already in Beowulf (about 725).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old English the noun was used mainly in compounds such as ''wyllspring'', wellspring;^(Etymonline) a flow of water rising from the ground is recorded from about 1125.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MED) From the water bursting out came the figurative sense of a source or origin (early 13th century).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Middle English used ''spring'' for the rising or beginning of anything: ''spring of dai'' for dawn, and the rising of the moon or tide.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The season was first ''springing time'' (early 14th century), then ''spring of the year'' or ''spring of the leaf'' (1520s–30s), shortened to ''spring'' by the 1540s;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) it replaced the Old English name ''[[Lent]]'', and in the 15th century ''prime-temps'' was also used.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The sense of an elastic device, at first in clocks and watches, is from the early 15th century (1428 in Barnhart),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and carriage springs date from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) In Middle English the verb took over the causative role of ''sprengan'', as in ''to spring a trap'';^(Etymonline)^(Weekley 1921) later senses include to announce suddenly (1876), to free from prison (1900) and, in slang, to pay for something (1906).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 725 – the verb, in Beowulf.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 816 – the source of a stream.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * early 13th century – a source or origin.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 14th century – ''springing time'', the season.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1428 – an elastic device.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1540s – ''spring'', the season.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660s – a carriage spring.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1876 – to announce suddenly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1900 – to free from prison.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The season between winter and summer, when plants begin to grow.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An elastic device, such as a coil of wire, that returns to its shape after being pressed or stretched.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A natural flow of water rising from the ground; a place where it rises.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A source or origin.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A leap or jump.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # [[elasticity|alt=Elasticity]] or [[resilience]]; an energetic bounce.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly Scots)'' A quick, lively tune, especially on the bagpipes.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To leap or move suddenly upward or forward.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To arise or appear suddenly; to come from a source (often with ''up'' or ''from'').^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To release or operate suddenly, as a trap or [[catch]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To present or reveal unexpectedly (often with ''on'').^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To warp, split or crack, as wood.^(AHD)^(Weekley 1921)

+ # ''(informal)'' To free someone from prison.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(informal)'' To pay for something for someone else (often with ''for'').^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To fit with springs.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[springlike]]

+ * [[outspring]]

+ * [[respring]]

+ * [[springer]]

+ * [[springing]]

+ * [[upspring]]

+ * [[bedspring]]

+ * [[dayspring]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sprang]]

+ * [[sprung]]

+ * [[springald]]

+ * [[springbok]]

+ * [[springe]]

+ * [[springhalt]]

+ * [[offspring]]

+ * [[sprinkle]]

+ * [[spring tide]]

+ * [[wellspring]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}