GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Spare (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. spaer spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. sparn, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See Spare, a.]
1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. “No cost would he spare.” Chaucer.
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[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. Milton.
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He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. Prov. xvii. 27.
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2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
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Be pleased your plitics to spare. Dryden.
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Spare my sight the pain
Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. Dryden.
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3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
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Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer.
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Dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages. Milton.
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Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.
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4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
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All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he estowed on . . . serving of God. Knolles.
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5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
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Where angry Jove did never spare
One breath of kind and temperate air. Roscommon.
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I could have better spared a better man. Shak.
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To spare one's self. (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.]
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Her thought that a lady should her spare. Chaucer.
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(b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.
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