Antonyms for pounce


Grammar : Verb
Spell : pouns
Phonetic Transcription : paÊŠns


Definition of pounce

Origin :
  • 1680s, originally "to seize with the pounces," from Middle English pownse (n.) "hawk's claw" (see pounce (n.)). Meaning "to jump or fall upon suddenly" is from 1812. Figurative sense of "lay hold of eagerly" is from 1840. Related: Pounced; pouncing.
  • verb leap at; take by surprise
Example sentences :
  • The cat was about to pounce down on the eggs when the Pope laid hold of it.
  • Extract from : « The Eternal City » by Hall Caine
  • The clerk dusted the document with pounce, and handed it to the Duke.
  • Extract from : « The Historical Nights' Entertainment » by Rafael Sabatini
  • There was an ink-horn, a box of pounce, some quills, and a sheaf of paper there.
  • Extract from : « The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second Series » by Rafael Sabatini
  • Then he thought it would be an easy thing to pounce upon Daikoku.
  • Extract from : « Japanese Fairy World » by William Elliot Griffis
  • She had two dwarfs of sons; one was named Spy, and the other Pounce.
  • Extract from : « Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17) » by Various
  • You are waiting in your lairs, ready to pounce on the unwary hunter.
  • Extract from : « The Hunters » by William Morrison
  • These we will pounce upon and carry off, and at daybreak will appear with them before the walls.
  • Extract from : « Saint Bartholomew's Eve » by G. A. Henty
  • We could not tell when the irate driver might not pounce down upon us with a customer.
  • Extract from : « Rudder Grange » by Frank R. Stockton
  • Consequently Dyke was able to pounce upon the Kaffir, whom he seized by the waist-cloth.
  • Extract from : « Diamond Dyke » by George Manville Fenn
  • But Walter came at last on the 7:50 train and there was Sara to pounce on him.
  • Extract from : « Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1905 to 1906 » by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Synonyms for pounce

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019