Main Entry:

¹spare

Pronunciation:

\ˈsper\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

spared; spar·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English sparian; akin to Old High German sparōn to spare, Old English spær, adjective, scant

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1: to forbear to destroy, punish, or harm2: to refrain from attacking or reprimanding with necessary or salutary severity3: to relieve of the necessity of doing or undergoing something <spare yourself the trouble>4: to refrain from : avoid <spared no expense>5: to use or dispense frugally —used chiefly in the negative <don't spare the syrup>6 a: to give up as not strictly needed <do you have any cash to spare> b: to have left over or as margin <time to spare>intransitive verb1: to be frugal2: to refrain from doing harm

— spare·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

— spar·er noun