Wellspring vs Mainspring - What's the difference?
wellspring | mainspring |
The source of water for a stream, spring or well; a fountainhead; a wellhead.
A perennial source of anything; a fountainhead of supply or emanation; resource.
The principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, that drives it by uncoiling.
* 1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)
(figuratively) The most important reason for something.
As nouns the difference between wellspring and mainspring
is that wellspring is the source of water for a stream, spring or well; a fountainhead; a wellhead while mainspring is the principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, that drives it by uncoiling.wellspring
English
Noun
(en noun)mainspring
English
Noun
(en noun)- He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away.
- My daughter is the mainspring of my life.