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Webster 1913 Edition

Spare

Spare

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Spared
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sparing
.]
[AS.
sparian
, fr.
spaer
spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G.
sparen
, OHG.
spar[GREEK]n
, Icel. & Sw.
spara
, Dan.
spare
See
Spare
,
Adj.
]
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.
[Thou] thy Father’s dreadful thunder didst not
spare
.
Milton.
He that hath knowledge,
spareth
his words.
Prov. xvii. 27.
2.
To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
Be pleased your plitics to
spare
.
Dryden.
Spare
my sight the pain
Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you.
Dryden.
3.
To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
Spare
us, good Lord.
Book of Common Prayer.
Dim sadness did not
spare

That time celestial visages.
Milton.
Man alone can whom he conquers
spare
.
Waller.
4.
To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
All the time he could
spare
from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he [GREEK]estowed on . . . serving of God.
Knolles.
5.
To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
Where angry Jove did never
spare

One breath of kind and temperate air.
Roscommon.
I could have better
spared
a better man.
Shakespeare
To spare one's self
.
(a)
To act with reserve.
[Obs.]

Her thought that a lady should
her spare
.
Chaucer.
(b)
To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.

Spare

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
I, who at some times spend, at others
spare
,
Divided between carelessness and care.
Pope.
2.
To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
He will not
spare
in the day of vengeance.
Prov. vi. 34.
3.
To desist; to stop; to refrain.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.

Spare

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Sparer
;
sup
erl.
Sparest
; – not used in all the senses of the word.]
[AS.
spaer
sparing. Cf.
Spare
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
Scanty; not abundant or plentiful;
as, a
spare
diet
.
2.
Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
He was
spare
, but discreet of speech.
Carew.
3.
Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous;
as, I have no
spare
time
.
If that no
spare
clothes he had to give.
Spenser.
4.
Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency;
as, a
spare
anchor; a
spare
bed or room.
5.
Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
O, give me the
spare
men, and spare me the great ones.
Shakespeare
6.
Slow.
[Obs. or prov. Eng.]
Grose.

Spare

,
Noun.
1.
The act of sparing; moderation; restraint.
[Obs.]
Killing for sacrifice, without any
spare
.
Holland.
2.
Parsimony; frugal use.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
Poured out their plenty without spite or
spare
.
Spenser.
3.
An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket.
[Obs.]
4.
That which has not been used or expended.

Webster 1828 Edition

Spare

SPARE

,
Verb.
T.
[It seems to be from the same root as L. parco.]
1.
To use frugally; not to be profuse; not to waste. Thou thy Father's thunder did'st not spare/
2.
To save or withhold from any particular use or occupation. He has no bread to spare, that is, to withhold from his necessary uses. All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he bestowed on prayer and serving of God.
3.
To part with without much inconvenience; to do without. I could have better spar'd a better man. Nor can we spare you long-
4.
To omit; to forbear. We might have spared this toil and expense; Be pleas'd your politics to spare.
5.
To use tenderly; to treat with pity and forbearance; to forbear to afflict, punish or destroy. Spare us, good Lord. dim sadness did not spare celestial visages. But man alone can whom be conquers spare.
6.
Not to take when in one's power; to forbear to destroy; as, to spare the life of a prisoner.
7.
To grant; to allow; to indulge. Where anger Jove did never spare one breath of kind and temp'rate air.
8.
TO forbear to inflict of impose. Spare my sight the pain of seeing what a world of tears it cost you.

SPARE

, v.i.
1.
TO live frugally; to be parsimonious. Who at some times spend, as other spare, divided between carelessness and care.
2.
To forbear; to be scrupulous. To pluck and cat my fill I spar'd not.
3.
To be frugal; not to be profuse.
4.
To use mercy or forbearance; to forgive to be tender. The king was sparing and compassionate towards hid subjects.

SPARE

, a.
1.
Seanty; parsimonious; not abundant; as a spare diet. He was spare but discreet of speech. [We more generally use, in the latter application, sparing; as, he was sparing of words.]
2.
That can be dispensed with; not wanted; superfluous. I have no spare time on my hands. If that no spare clothes he had to give.
3.
Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin. O give me your spare men and spare me the great ones.
4.
Slow. [Not in use.]

SPARE

,
Noun.
Parsimony; frugal use. [Not in use.]

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