Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Spare?

\Spare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spared}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sparing}.] [AS. sparian, fr. sp[ae]r 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. [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 ?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. --Shak. {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\, v. 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\, a. [Compar. {Sparer}; superl. {Sparest}; -- not used in all the senses of the word.] [AS. sp[ae]r sparing. Cf. {Spare}, v. 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. --Shak. 6. Slow. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] --Grose.
\Spare\, n. 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. 5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare.