Synonyms for mainspring
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : meyn-spring |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ |
Top 10 synonyms for mainspring Other synonyms for the word mainspring
- account
- agency
- agent
- anchor
- antecedent
- author
- base
- basic idea
- basis
- bedrock
- beginning
- beginnings
- bottom
- bottom line
- bubbler
- causality
- causation
- center
- core
- cornerstone
- creator
- criterion
- crux
- derivation
- design
- determinant
- doer
- drive
- egg
- embryo
- end
- essentiality
- explanation
- feeling
- font
- footing
- foundation
- fount
- fountain
- fountainhead
- fundamental
- generator
- genesis
- germ
- geyser
- gist
- ground
- grounds
- groundwork
- gush
- heart
- horse's mouth
- idea
- impulse
- incentive
- inception
- incitement
- inducement
- influence
- infrastructure
- inspiration
- instigation
- intent
- intention
- jet
- kernel
- key element
- keystone
- leaven
- linchpin
- lode
- main ingredient
- mainspring
- mainstay
- maker
- marrow
- matter
- measure
- mine
- mother
- motivation
- motive
- nub
- nucleus
- object
- occasion
- origin
- parent
- parentage
- passion
- pillar
- pith
- play
- prime mover
- principle
- producer
- progenitor
- provenance
- provenience
- pump
- purpose
- quick
- quintessence
- radicle
- radix
- rationale
- reason
- reservoir
- rhizome
- rock bottom
- root
- roots
- rootstock
- seat
- seed
- soul
- source
- spout
- spray
- spring
- spur
- standard
- starting point
- stem
- stimulation
- stimulus
- stock
- stream
- stuff
- substance
- substratum
- thinking
- tuber
- underpinning
- virtuality
- well
- wellhead
- wellspring
Définition of mainspring
Origin :- 1590s, of watches, clocks, etc., from main (adj.) + spring (n.3). Figurative use from 1690s.
- As in keynote/keystone : noun essence, theme
- As in motive : noun reason, purpose
- As in origin : noun cause, basis
- As in root : noun base, core
- As in keynote : noun theme
- As in bottom : noun base, core
- As in cause : noun agent, originator
- As in provenience : noun origin
- As in rootstock : noun origin
- As in cornerstone : noun vital element
- As in fountain : noun source, often of liquid
- Perhaps this had originally been the mainspring of the understanding between them.
- Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
- How's she goin' to cock that gun, an' the mainspring fifteen pounds resistance?'
- Extract from : « Faro Nell and Her Friends » by Alfred Henry Lewis
- That need is the mainspring of life, the key to heaven, and the root of all evil.
- Extract from : « Olive in Italy » by Moray Dalton
- The words were an echo of those which formed the mainspring of the Admiral's life.
- Extract from : « Saint Bartholomew's Eve » by G. A. Henty
- For that was really the mainspring of her fantastic actions.
- Extract from : « The Good Soldier » by Ford Madox Ford
- You see, the mainspring of her nature must have been vanity.
- Extract from : « The Good Soldier » by Ford Madox Ford
- Love must always be the mainspring of life and honour its loftiest ideal.
- Extract from : « The Orchard of Tears » by Sax Rohmer
- But, losing her brother, the mainspring of her life seemed broken.
- Extract from : « Lippincott's Magazine, December 1878 » by Various
- The navy was the mainspring of Victoria in more ways than one.
- Extract from : « Some Reminiscences of old Victoria » by Edgar Fawcett
- Mentally he was wondering if this was the mainspring of conduct in all women.
- Extract from : « The Gentle Art of Cooking Wives » by Elizabeth Strong Worthington
Antonyms for mainspring
- close
- completion
- conclusion
- consequence
- death
- derivative
- destiny
- deterrent
- development
- discouragement
- effect
- end
- ending
- exterior
- exteriority
- extra
- finale
- finish
- fruit
- goal
- hindrance
- issue
- neglect
- outcome
- outgrowth
- outside
- periphery
- product
- result
- sprout
- surface
- termination
- thoughtlessness
- top
- trivia
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019