spurn

Meaning

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To reject disdainfully; contemn; scorn.
2. (transitive) To reject something by pushing it away with the foot.
3. (transitive) To waste; fail to make the most of (an opportunity)
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To kick or toss up the heels.

Noun

1. An act of spurning; a scornful rejection.
2. (archaic) A kick; a blow with the foot.
3. (obsolete) Disdainful rejection; contemptuous treatment.
4. A body of coal left to sustain an overhanging mass.

Synonyms

reject

refuse

scorn

decline

repulse

repel

dismiss

disavow

withhold

disallow

shun

turn down

kick

disdain

rebuff

resend

relay

throw away

send back

snub

repress

freeze off

pass up

discard

pooh-pooh

dispose

rebuke

rebut

refute

drive away

repudiate

belittle

dump

stumble

emboss

expel

tool

chase

turn away

fend off

chase away

condemn

despise

disapprove of

look askance at

disagree

disapprove

abjure

parry

thrust from one

Translations

ablehnen

rejeitar

abweisen

rechazar

abschlagen

recusar

afwijzen

rifiutare

nee zeggen tegen

versagen

verweigern

weigern

ausmerzen

ausschlagen

refusar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spɜːn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spurnen

Inherited from Old English: spurnan

Cognate with Scots: spurn

Cognate with German: anspornen

Cognate with Icelandic: sporna

Cognate with Latin: spernō

In summary

From Middle English spurnen, spornen, from Old English spurnan (“to strike against, kick, spurn, reject; stumble”), from Proto-Germanic *spurnaną (“to tread, kick, knock out”), from Proto-Indo-European *sperH-.
Cognate with Scots spurn (“to strike, push, kick”), German spornen (“to spur on”), Icelandic sporna, spyrna (“to kick”), Latin spernō (“despise, distain, scorn”). Related to spur and spread.