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Antonyms for mainspring


Grammar : Noun
Spell : meyn-spring
Phonetic Transcription : ˈmeɪnˌsprɪŋ



Definition 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
Example sentences :
  • 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

Synonyms for mainspring

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019