Spurn

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Spurn, v. t. [OE. spurnen to kick against, to stumble over, AS. spurnan to kick, offend; akin to spura spur, OS. & OHG. spurnan to kick, Icel. spyrna, L. spernere to despise, Skr. sphur to jerk, to push. Spur.].

•  To drive back or away, as with the foot; to kick.  [1913 Webster]

  "[The bird] with his foot will spurn adown his cup."  [1913 Webster]

  "I spurn thee like a cur out of my way."  [1913 Webster]
•  To reject with disdain; to scorn to receive or accept; to treat with contempt.  [1913 Webster]

  "What safe and nicely I might well delay
  By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn."  [1913 Webster]

  "Domestics will pay a more cheerful service when they find themselves not spurned because fortune has laid them at their master's feet."  [1913 Webster]

Spurn, v. i. 

•  To kick or toss up the heels.  [1913 Webster]

  "The miller spurned at a stone."  [1913 Webster]

  "The drunken chairman in the kennel spurns."  [1913 Webster]
•  To manifest disdain in rejecting anything; to make contemptuous opposition or resistance.  [1913 Webster]

  "Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image."  [1913 Webster]

Spurn, n. 

•  A kick; a blow with the foot.  [1913 Webster]

  "What defense can properly be used in such a despicable encounter as this but either the slap or the spurn?"  [1913 Webster]
•  Disdainful rejection; contemptuous treatment.  [1913 Webster]

  "The insolence of office, and the spurns
  That patient merit of the unworthy takes."  [1913 Webster]
•  A body of coal left to sustain an overhanging mass.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Spurn, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 reject with disdain; treat with contempt.
2 repel or thrust back with one's foot.
--n. an act of spurning.

Derivative

spurner n.

Etymology

OE spurnan, spornan, rel. to SPUR

THESAURUS

Spurn

abjure, ban, banish, beat back, blackball, brush aside, brush off, cast out, chase, chase away, chase off, chuck, chuck out, cold-shoulder, contemn, contradict, cut, cut direct, decline, deny, deport, despise, disapprove, discard, disclaim, discount, disdain, disfellowship, dismiss, disown, disregard, drive away, drive back, except, exclude, excommunicate, exile, expatriate, expel, extradite, fend off, flout, forswear, fugitate, fuss, hold off, humiliation, ignore, keep off, look down upon, ostracize, outlaw, pack off, pass by, pass up, pick and choose, proscribe, push aside, push back, put back, rebuff, recant, refuse, refuse to consider, refuse to receive, reject, relegate, renounce, repel, reprobate, repudiate, repulse, rusticate, scoff, scorn, scorn to receive, scout, send away, send down, send off, send packing, send to Coventry, shove away, slight, sneer, sneer at, sneeze at, sniff, snort, snub, spit upon, spurning, steer clear of, the cold shoulder, the go-by, throw away, throw out, thrust back, thrust out, transport, turn away, turn back, turn down, turn out, waive, ward off

ROGET THESAURUS

Spurn

Refusal

VB refuse, reject, deny, decline, turn down, nill, negative, refuse one's assent, withhold one's assent, shake the head, close the hand, close the purse, grudge, begrudge, be slow to, hang fire, pass (at cards), be deaf to, dismiss, turn a deaf ear to, turn one's back upon, set one's face against, discountenance, not hear of, have nothing to do with, wash one's hands of, stand aloof, forswear, set aside, cast behind one, not yield an inch, resist, cross, not grant, repel, repulse, shut the door in one's face, slam the door in one's face, rebuff, send back, send to the right about, send away with a flea in the ear, deny oneself, not be at home to, discard, spurn, rescind, disclaim, protest, dissent.

Indifference

VB be indifferent, stand neuter, take no interest in, have no desire for, have no taste for, have no relish for, not care for, care nothing for, care nothing about, not care a straw about, not care a fig for, not care a whit about, not mind, set at naught, spurn.

Contempt

N contempt, disdain, scorn, sovereign contempt, despisal, despiciency, despisement, vilipendency, contumely, slight, sneer, spurn, by-word, despect, contemptuousness, scornful eye, smile of contempt, derision, despisedness, contemptuous, disdainful, scornful, withering, contumelious, supercilious, cynical, haughty, bumptious, cavalier, derisive, contemptible, despicable, pitiable, pitiful, despised, downtrodden, unenvied, unrespectable (unworthy), contemptuously, Int, a fig for, bah!, never mind!, away with!, hang it!, fiddlededee!, a dismal universal hiss, the sound of public scorn, I had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a.

VB despise, contemn, scorn, disdain, feel contempt for, view with a scornful eye, disregard, slight, not mind, pass by, look down upon, hold cheap, hold in contempt, hold in disrespect, think nothing of, think small beer of, make light of, underestimate, esteem slightly, esteem of small or no account, take no account of, care nothing for, set no store by, not care a straw, sneeze at, set at naught, laugh in one's sleeve, laugh up one's sleeve, snap one's fingers at, shrug one's shoulders, turn up one's nose at, pooh-pooh, damn with faint praise, whistle at, sneer at, curl up one's lip, toss the head, traiter de haut enbas, laugh at, point the finger of scorn, hold up to scorn, laugh to scorn, scout, hoot, flout, hiss, scoff at, turn one's back upon, turn a cold shoulder upon, tread upon, trample upon, trample under foot, spurn, kick, fling to the winds, send away with a flea in the ear.