Antonyms for spur
| Grammar : Noun, verb |
| Spell : spur |
| Phonetic Transcription : spÉœr |
Definition of spur
Origin :- Old English spura, spora (related to spurnan "to kick," see spurn), from Proto-Germanic *spuron (cf. Old Norse spori, Middle Dutch spore, Dutch spoor, Old High German sporo, German Sporn "spur"), from PIE *spere- "ankle" (see spurn).
- Generalized sense of "anything that urges on, stimulus," is from late 14c. Meaning "a ridge projecting off a mountain mass" is recorded from 1650s. "Widely extended senses ... are characteristic of a horsey race." [Weekley] Expression on the spur of the moment (1801) preserves archaic phrase on the spur "in great haste" (1520s). To win one's spurs is to gain knighthood by some valorous act, gilded spurs being the distinctive mark of a knight.
- noun incitement, stimulus
- verb incite, prompt
- How can you think of such funny things on the spur of the moment?
- Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower
- You gents feed your hosses the spur and leave the thinkin' to me.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- Yet what can I say, for all men know that your valor needs the curb and not the spur.
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- He struck the rivet such a blow that he snapped one shank of his spur short off.
- Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
- David Macy's house stood on the spur of a breezy upland at the end of a road.
- Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown
- Now, then, spur forward, if thou art eager to see thy Leila.
- Extract from : « Leila, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- She walked a hundred yards or so towards the village on the spur of this thought.
- Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
- We scorned to be out-galloped by a Highlandman, so off we started, whip and spur.
- Extract from : « The Letters of Robert Burns » by Robert Burns
- Does he know how to spur up his virtue, and put a check-rein on his pride?
- Extract from : « Farm Ballads » by Will Carleton
- In the right place, it should spur him on to a second attempt to get into college.
- Extract from : « Four Girls and a Compact » by Annie Hamilton Donnell
Synonyms for spur
- activation
- actuation
- animate
- arouse
- awaken
- catalyst
- countenance
- drive
- egg on
- excitant
- exhort
- favor
- fire up
- goad
- goose
- impel
- impetus
- impulse
- incentive
- incitation
- inducement
- instigate
- key up
- motivation
- motive
- needle
- press
- prick
- prod
- propel
- push
- put up to
- rally
- rouse
- sic
- spark
- stimulant
- stimulate
- stir
- trigger
- turn on
- turn-on
- urge
- work up
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019