from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spare \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. spar?n, 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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