Definition: sprang
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Sprang \Sprang\, imp. of Spring.
Spring \Spring\, v. i. [imp. Sprangor Sprung; p. p. Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing.] [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. ? to hasten. Cf. Springe, Sprinkle.] 1. To leap; to bound; to jump. The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. --Philips. 2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot. And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. --Dryden. 3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert. Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring. --Otway. 4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power. 5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning. 6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -often followed by up, forth, or out. Till well nigh the day began to spring. --Chaucer. To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth. --Job xxxviii. 27. Do not blast my springing hopes. --Rowe. O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born. --Pope. 7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle. [They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked. --Milton. 8. To grow; to prosper. What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring? --Dryden. To spring at, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap. To spring forth, to leap out; to rush out. To spring in, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste. To spring on or upon, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.
