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 verb 1 : to forbear to destroy, punish, or harm
2 : to refrain from attacking or reprimanding with necessary or salutary severity
3 : 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 verb 1 : to be frugal
2 : to refrain from doing harm

— spare·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

— spar·er noun