Forms: 1 sparian, spear-, spærian, 3 sparien, spearien, 3–4 sparie (4 -ye), 3–5 spary; 4–5 sparen, 4– spare, 5–8 Sc. spair (6 spaare, spaer, 7 spayer, 9 dial. spaar). [Common Teutonic: OE. sparian (also a-, ʓesparian), = OFris. sparia (WFris. sparje, † spearje, NFris. spari, spāri), OS. and OHG. sparôn (MLG. and LG., MDu. and Du., MHG. and G. sparen), ON. spara (Icel., Norw., Sw. spara, Da. spare), f. a stem spar- (see SPARE a.) of uncertain relationship. The Teutonic word is the base of OF. espargner (mod.F. épargner), It. sparagnare and sparmiare.]
I. 1. trans. To leave (a person) unhurt, unharmed or uninjured; to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment upon; to allow to escape, go free, or live. Usually with personal subject.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter lxxi. 13. God … spearað dearfan & weðlan.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xlvi. 352. Hie ne sparodon ða synnfullan, ac sloʓon.
c. 1100. in Cockayne, Shrine, 17. Ne spareð nu se fæder þan sune ne nan mann oðren; Ac ælc man winð onʓean oðren.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1086. He sætte … þeʓnas on cweartern, & æt nextan he ne sparode his aʓenne broðor.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. Þa he na sparede na ihesu crist his aȝene sune.
c. 1205. Lay., 27487. Nuste nan kempe whæm he sculde slæn on, and wham he sculde sparien.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8830. Sparie be wolde Mildemen & harde chasty þe proute.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 297. He … gert his men burn all Bouchane … and sparit nane.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxi. 142. Þare es nane spared þat es taken with a trespas.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 53. To spare them & gyue hem her lyf.
1589. ? Lyly, Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 19. I am like death, Ile spare none.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 153. Take thou the bill, giue me thy meat-yard, and spare not me.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 364. If men could have entered into Covenant and kept the Law, Christ had beene spared.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 758. Whom ev’n the savage Beasts had spar’d, they kill’d.
1780. Cowper, Fable, 34. An earthquake may be bid to spare The man that’s strangled by a hair.
1825. Scott, Talism., iii. Saladin had issued particular orders that he should be spared and protected.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xlii. They … demanded that there should be a trial, and that the innocent should be spared.
refl. 1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1609. Vor woch dede a man ssolde … Lese is on eye, & he him sulf ne sparde him sulue noȝt, Ac let pulte out is owe eye.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26718. Þis man will we spare, For noght he spard him-self are.
b. With impersonal object (but implying or suggesting a person or persons). (Cf. 4.)
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter lxxvii. 50. [He] ne spearede from deaðe sawlum heara.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 11. Spynneth it spedily, spareþ noght ȝour fyngres.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 72. Spare my gray-beard, you wagtaile?
1725. Pope, Odyss., XV. 303. Receive the suppliant! spare my destin’d blood.
1757. Gray, Bard, 107. Visions of glory, spare my aching sight.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, X. xxiv. 1. Famine had spared the palace of the king.
c. To allow to be free or exempt from (or † of) some task, etc. Also refl. without const.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 362. He him sparit na kyn thing, Bot prufit swa his fors … That throu his vorschip [etc.].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. cix. (Bodl. MS.). The more scheo [i.e., a cow] is forbore and spared fro [1495 of] trauaile, þe more slowe [s]he is.
1596. Bacon, Max. & Use Com. Law, II. (1635), 7. By which the Earles were spared of their toyles and labours, and that was laid upon the Sheriffes.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxv. [The] housekeeper, now spared from further attendance by the entrance of the Count.
d. To refrain from denouncing or exposing in strong terms; to deal gently or leniently with.
1535. Coverdale, Job xxxii. 21. I wil open my lyppes, and make answere. I will regarde no maner of personne, no man wil I spare.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. iii. 243. Sici[nus]. Lay the fault on vs. Brut[us]. I, spare vs not.
1649. Milton, Eikon., B 2. As he hath not spar’d his Adversaries, so to him will be us’d no more Courtship then he uses.
1728. T. Sheridan, trans. Persius (1739), Ded. p. iv. I never did once either distinguish or spare you.
1771. Junius Lett., liv. (1788), 295. What public question have I declined? What villain have I spared?
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xli. As Varney … had been studious to spare the character of his patron.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. iv. My lady used not to spare Colonel Esmond in talking of him.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lxii. 295. He shrank from eliciting a keenness of wit which had not spared the bloodstained Sylla.
e. To refrain from afflicting or distressing.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxviii. Emily … was followed by the Lady Blanche,… whom she entreated to spare her on the subject of her distress.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. ii. 108. Oh, spare me! Speak to me no more!… Those solemn tones Wound worse than torture.
1856. Capern, Poems (ed. 2), 143. Spare, oh, spare thy tender feelings.
2. absol. To exercise or show mercy, forbearance or leniency.
a. 1225. Juliana (Royal MS.), 70. A stalewurðe men ne sparie ȝe nawiht; ha haueð us alle scheome idon.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3974. Esau ai he dred ful sare, For he was fel and wald noght spare.
1382. Wyclif, Job xxvii. 22. He shal senden out vp on hym, and not sparen.
c. 1420. Prymer, 78. God, to whom it is proprid to haue merci & to spare euer more.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 181. He that is a gouernoure in tymes he shall Spare, and in tymes vengeaunse take.
1535. Coverdale, Job vi. 10. I wolde desyre him in my payne, that he shulde not spare.
1611. Bible, Prov. vi. 34. He will not spare in the day of vengeance.
1736. Gentl. Mag., VI. 678/2. Spare, charmer spare! in prudence do!
1761. Gray, Fatal Sisters, 34. Ours to kill, and ours to spare.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxii. The lion Richard will spare when he has conquered.
1871. Grosart, H. Vaughan’s Wks., I. Ded. p. iv. Available and destined for the same august post (God sparing).
† b. Const. to. (After L. parcere.) Obs.
c. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xviii. 13. Of myn hid [trespasses] make me clene, and of oþer spare til þi seruaunte.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. xii. 16. To alle thou makest thee to sparen.
1420. Prymer, 47. Spare, lord, spare to þe puple.
3. trans. † a. To refrain from violating, infringing or breaking. Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 806. Of al þe festys þat yn holy chyrche are Holy sunday men oght to spare.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 129. No privelege of persoun wheþer of holy cherche noþer fredom was i-spared.
b. To abstain from visiting (a sin, etc.) with due punishment; to forgive or pardon.
1388. Wyclif, Job xiv. 16. Sotheli thou hast noumbrid my steppis; but spare thou my synnes.
a. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. lv. 132. I þonke þe þat þou hast not spared myn eueles.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxx. 27. Thow, that on rude ws ransomit,… Spair our trespas.
1782. Cowper, Mut. Forbearance, 44. If infirmities … Are crimes so little to be spar’d.
c. To preserve or save (life) in place of destroying; to allow to continue or last.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, V. 445. To spare Thy worthles life that yet must one day perish.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 66. This ancient Ruffian Sir, whose life I haue spar’d at sute of his gray-beard.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 623. Those holy men … could not … spare a life too short to reach the skies.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xix. With what face darest thou ask any guerdon beyond my sparing thy worthless life?
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., i. 8. He hoped that the squire’s life would be long spared.
1890. Science-Gossip, XXVI. 167. Poor pussy began to purr, and that decided the verdict in favour of her life being spared.
4. To abstain from destroying, removing, damaging or injuring (a thing).
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xviii. 140. Swæ sindon ða loccas to sparianne ðæm sacerde ðæt hie ða hyd beheliʓen.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xxvii. Cyricum ne mynstrum seo herehand sparode ne ne arode.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 248. Holy who salle spare,… Whan þo þat hedes are do þer to no gode.
1382. Wyclif, Rom. xi. 21. Forsothe if God sparide not the kyndely braunchis, lest perauenture he spare not thee.
c. 1400. Brut, li. 45. [They] destroyede al þing þat þai fonde; and no þing þai ne sparede.
1480. Cov. Leet Bk., 446. In their shotyng called rovyng,… [they] nother sparen corn ne grasse, but distroyen & defowlen hem.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 368. Shee … was now about to put out his eyes, which all this while were spared.
1643. Denham, Cooper’s H. (1653), 8.
| What does he think our Sacriledge would spare, | |
| When such th’ effects of our devotions are? |
1648. Milton, Sonn., viii. 10. The great Emathian Conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxix. From the wonders which time has spared we may conjecture … what it has destroyed.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xlv. The beauty … of its delicate carvings, determined the count to spare this door.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VI. 165. It was believed that Alexander … was induced to spare it by the hope that it would soon surrender.
1879. S. C. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., x. 225. Usually a large part of their branches had been cut off, even when the tree itself had been spared.
b. To save or protect (a thing) from damage, wear, or undue strain in some way.
1817. Lady Morgan, France, I. (1818), I. 63. I remember our having alighted from our carriage to spare its springs in a sort of ‘crack-scull-common’ road.
II. 5. To refrain from using or consuming; to use in a frugal or economical manner. Now rare.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom. (Thorpe), II. 70. He sparode þæt gode win oð his aʓenum to-cyme.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7927. For to spar his aun aght Þis pouer mans scep he laght.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xiv. (Bodl. MS.). [A father] spareþ his owne mete to fede his chyld with.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 143. Þou myȝt so spare þi purse, þat þou myȝt forfare þi-self.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 14. It satisfieth not to spare metes and do euill dedis.
c. 1550. N. Smyth, trans. Herodian, II. 19. He … also teacheth others to be frugall, and spare that them selues gette.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 34. She sparde no euening milke, but went amongst the cream bowles, and made him a posset.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, I. 869. Free Natures bounty thriftily they spent, And spared the Stock.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 181. He which laboureth much, and sparing the fruits of his labour, consumeth little [etc.].
1726. Swift, Gulliver, III. i. Being resolved to spare my provisions as much as I could.
1743. Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. vii. 26. Thy Limbs from Toils of Warfare free, Nor spare the Casks reserv’d for Thee.
† b. To save, hoard, or store up. Obs.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 320. My brother is a niggoun…, And we wil spende largely that he hath spared yore.
1483. Caxton, Cato, F iij b. For men hath dyspended … in lytel tyme that whiche men hath acquyred and spared wyth grete labour.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxvi. 25. Sum grit gud gadderis and ay it spairis.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 84. The sonne of his loines why should be regard To leaue enriched with that he hath spard?
1648. Gage, West Ind., 160. What monies they have spared, after their own and their servants lawful maintenance.
1683. D. A., Art Converse, 116. They can inform you of Twenty Arts how to gain and spare a Peny.
c. absol. To use or practise economy or frugality; to be parsimonious or niggardly; to live or act sparingly.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 53. And riche renkes riȝt so gaderen and sparen.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), ii. I myȝte lung spare, Or alle these godus qwitte ware, And haue noȝte to spend.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 202. Thairfoir sic [good fare] as thow seis, spend on, and not spair.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VI. (1811), 234. He … gaue parte vnto suche knyghtes as he fauoured, and spared to theym that hadde wele deserued.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 204. For lordlie bent Must learne to spare.
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 73. It is a pleasing … excuse among men … to alledge that they spare for their children.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 320. Where Nature … by disburd’ning grows More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.
1737. Pope, trans. Hor., Epist., II. ii. 290. I, who at some times spend, at others spare.
1792. Burns, Country Lassie, iv. But some will spend, and some will spare.
1866. Howells, Venetian Life, 325. Those people who attempt to maintain a certain appearance upon insufficient means,… and who spare in every possible way. Ibid. (1889), Hazard New Fortunes, 94. They must spare in carriage hire at any rate.
prov. 1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 54. Euer spare and euer bare.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 23. Some spareth too late,… the foole at the bottom, the wise at the brim.
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To spare at the spiggot, and let it run out at the bung-hole.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., s.v., Better spare at the brim, than at the bottom, sera est in fundo parsimonia [Seneca Ep. I. 5].
1736. Ainsworth, I. s.v., It is too late to spare, when all is spent.
d. In passive: To be left over or unused.
1577. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., § 149. You must feede them often by hand, when meate fayles abroade,… and not so much as Barly spared.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 237. The mason took the mortar out of the bucket; and if any was spared, he still kept on beating.
1799. [A. Young], Agric. Linc., 25. All that may be spared at night, should be thrown to the common mortar heap, and fresh stucco made in the morning.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., 481. Eat what thee likes, an’ what’s spared tak’ awa’ yamm fur t’ bairns.
6. To abstain or refrain from using, employing, exercising, etc.; to forbear, omit, or avoid the use or occasion of; also, to use, or deal in, with moderation, economy or restraint: a. In various special contexts.
(a) c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 324. Se ðe sparað his ʓyrde, he hatað his cild.
a. 1250. Prov. Ælfred, 451, in O. E. Misc. Þe mon þe spareþ yeorde…, þat him schal on ealde sore reowe.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VI. 139. Ho so spareþ þe spring spilleþ hus children.
c. 1430. Stans Puer ad Mensam, 91 (Lamb. MS.). Who þat spariþ þe rodde [v.r. the yerd] al uertues settiþ a-side.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1955. There is nothynge that more dyspleaseth God Than from theyr chyldren to spare the rod Of correccyon.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. xiii. 24. He that spareth the rodde, hateth his sonne.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 61/844. Love is a Boy, by Poets styl’d, Then Spare the rod, and spill the Child.
1841. Lytton, Nt. & Morn., II. iii. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, iii. I have a brother to whom my poor mother spared the rod, and who … has turned out but a spoilt child.
(b) a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 807. Lure ow is to leosen ower swinkes lan, þe leoteð se lutel of, & sparieð ower speche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16110. Sai me iesus, qui dos þou þus? to me na soth þou spare.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 55. Tel forth thy tale, and spare it not at al.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxx. 78. Flaterers and forgeours that sparen the soothe ben nothynge profitable.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxxiv. (Arb.), 100. Yf ye wyl spare the trouth and lye grete lesynges.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 40. Syne thai spak more spedelie, and sparit no materis.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 72. He might doe well to spare the rest of his speech.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xii. (1687), 79. Your blushes bid me spare this language.
1731. Swift, Death Dr. Swift, Wks. 1841, I. 657/2. Had he but spared his tongue and pen, He might have rose like other men.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, V. iv. 27. I am put upon a task that grieves me, Ease my heart, by sparing my speech.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxvii. ‘Spare your threats,’ said Murray.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxix. Much painful and unavailing talk between them was spared.
1864–8. Browning, Jas. Lee’s Wife, II. iii. Spare the curse!
(c) a. 1440. Found. St. Bartholomew’s (E.E.T.S.), 19. Whane thou cummyste yn to the Iewes strete, spare thy sporys, lose thy brydyll, lette thyn hors to my gouernaunce.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 305. Thayr wes na spurris to spair, spedely thai spring.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 26. But yet where youth is prone to follow ill, There spare the spurre, and use the brydell still.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 85. Flourish the Whip, nor spare the galling Spur.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. i. Why, Sir, you have not spared the spur!
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xvi. Come along … like a good fellow, and for once I shall spare the whip.
b. In miscellaneous (partly obs.) uses.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5867. Dathait qua werkes on þam spar! Þan held þai þam harder þan ar.
1388. Wyclif, Jer. l. 14. Ouercome ȝe it [sc. Babylon], spare ȝe not arowis, for it synnede to the Lord.
1515. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 212. [I] entreated them to spare distreyning, till such tyme as I had sent unto you [etc.].
1553. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 141. It is maist convenient and best to spair puneisment for the said cryme.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 97. Spare meadow at Gregorie, marshes at Pask, for feare of drie Sommer.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 57. They spare not now and then a blow with a Cudgel by the by.
1831. Scott, Ct. Robt., xxxiii. Count Robert spared putting forth some part of the military skill for which he was celebrated.
1884. F. Temple, Relat. Relig. & Sci., v. (1885), 142. We recognise that we are bound to spare pain to all creatures that can feel.
c. Const. to and infinitive.
Freq. from the 14th to the 17th century; now rare.
a. 1225. Juliana, 26. Ant … wa wurðe him wurst þat te mest sparie wondreðe to donne.
13[?]. Sir Beues, 4482. Sire Miles … Lep vpon a dromedary, To prike wolde he nouȝt spary.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 51. Wist I that … I wolde nouȝt spare For to be ȝowre frende.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 1065. I schal not spare for no curtesye To speke him harm, that wold us vilonye.
c. 1440. Partonope, 1707. Ye spared not in-to my bedde Homely to gonne.
1479. Cov. Leet Bk., 423. Not sparyng to do therin as lawe will for eny persone … what-so-euer.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 18. Some spare not to make insurrecyon and rebell agaynst theyr prelates and heddes.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 16. Spare not to commaund my service.
1637. Bp. Reynolds, Serm. (1638), 34. I shall spare to bee so injurious to your patience, and to the businesse wee attend upon.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Coronat. Solyman, 75. The Controller … would not spare to inform the worst he could against him.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. iv. And, from the platform, spare ye not To fire a noble salvo-shot.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xxix. (1902), 346. Using travellers’ freedom, we spared to wait for James More.
prov. 14[?]. Lat. & Eng. Prov. (MS. Douce 52), fol. 16 b. Who so sparyth to speke sparyth to spede.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. (Percy Soc.), 91. Who spareth to speke he to spede doth spare.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 31. Spare to speake spare to speede.
1567. Turberv., Epit., etc. (1837), 308. My Spencer, spare to speake, and euer spare to speed.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, xxxiv. Remembering the old proverb, ‘Spare to speak, spare to speed,’ [he] resolved to solicit the new captain’s interest immediately.
1789. Burns, Blue-eyed Lassie, ii. Wks. (1800), IV. 299.
1887. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., He that spares to speyk, spares to speed.
d. In elliptical use: To refrain from doing something. Now rare or Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Friar’s T., 39. Now telleth forth,… Ne spareth nought, myn owne maister deere.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12736. Sho spilt hade hir spousaile, sparit ho noght.
1530. Tindale, Wks. (Parker Soc.), 343. I could more deeply have entered into the practice of our cardinal, but I spare for divers considerations.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., lxxxi. In June washe thy shepe,… and kepe them from dust…. Then share them and spare not.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 24. Alon. I pre-thee spare. Gon. Well, I haue done.
a. 1620. J. Dyke, Right Receiv. Christ (1640), 161. Talke and spare not.
† e. absol. To refrain from or forbear the use or exercise of something. Obs. rare.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 274. A! lord, sparis of sic speche, quhill ye speir more.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 489. To commaunde vs to respite & spare for a season of callyng furth oure seid retynue.
7. To avoid incurring or being involved in, to save (expense or labor).
(a) a. 1325. [see (b) below].
c. 1400. Cursor M., 29060 (Cott. Galba). If þou fast þi spens to spare, thrise for to ete better þe ware.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xlviii. Ther was no spense for to spare, Burdes thay were neuyr bare.
1491. Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 22. Preamble, Put to your hand and spare no cost.
1548. Elyot, Parcere impensæ, to spare coste.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 9. This fortification, wherein he hath spared no cost.
1621. in W. H. Hale, Prec. Causes of Office (1841), 50. He said they haue no nede of popish reliques and that the parishe may spare their money for such thinges.
1693. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), II. 376. It being necessary to retrench the expences, it was thought proper to spare the charge of the Organist.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxiv. The gold thou shalt spare in her cause.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lvi. A famous tailor … was summoned to ornament little George’s person, and was told to spare no expense in so doing.
(b) a. 1325. MS. Rawl. B. 520, lf. 30 b. Þe king hath igraunted for te sparen trauail and despense of his men.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2 b. They … spared no labours neyther by see ne yet by lande.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 126. They wil spare neyther paynes nor peryl.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 1154. Meaning indeed by this means to spare their pouder, shot, and paines, and to reserue them to their better vses.
1675. J. Owen, Indwelling Sin, xvi. (1732), 216. To spare the trouble in the Education of their Children.
1780. Mirror, No. 101. These I spared no pains to cultivate and improve.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., ix. (1842), 238. He should not spare pains to procure the best possible [filtering-paper].
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, vi. 80. We must spare labour to the utmost till we can get a stock of labourers.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 601. No time, trouble, or expense has been spared in the matter.
b. To avoid, shun, keep clear of. Now rare.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1553. Faste þay passede ouer al þe weys…; Ne sparede þay hulles, noþer valeys, bote prikede forþ with bost.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 39. He hated wyn dronkenes, ribaudye, and harlottie; uppon caas for hete of þe contray he wolde have it i-spared.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 121 b/2. Haue pyte on thy self … that yd mayst … wynne to spare the tormentes that ben yet to come.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccx. 252. They spared nat the dangerous maresses, but went through them.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 142. Shun me and I will spare your haunts.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 183. And we know not How much … Of pleasure may be gained, of sorrow spared.
8. To dispense with from one’s stock or supply, or from a number, quantity, etc.; to part with, to give or grant, lend, etc., to another or others, esp. without inconvenience or loss to oneself; to do without.
Also const. to (a person or persons), from or out of (a stock or store, etc.).
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 416. Ȝif heo mei sparien eni poure schreaden, sende ham al derneliche ut of hire woanes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29057. Þe mete þat þou þi-self suld ete … þou sal it to þe pouer spare.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., lv. i. 67. Ȝit of þi good woldestou not spare.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk., 484. To knowe … what able persones & howe many the Towne myght spare ouer þe seid iijxx men.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 31 b. The lord Beauchampe toke from her rereward, more ordinance then she might haue wel spared.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 398 b. No parte of that wheate, which is in the citie, can be spared.
1601. in Moryson, Itin. (1617), II. 145. At this time he cannot well be spared from hence.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 516. He is Collector or Treasurer to the King of Ternate in those parts, and sends him what he can spare.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxiv. 129. It is necessary, that men distribute that which they can spare.
1769. Johnson, Lett. (1788), I. 20. I … can easily spare the pine-apple.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Donner un grand hunier, to spare a main top-sail to some other ship in company.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xvii. (1842), 463. When a drop only of the fluid can be spared, a glass plate … will support it.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 241. Kirke could spare no soldiers; but he had sent … some experienced officers.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xx. 337. Cæsar and Pompey must each spare a legion for the East.
b. To reserve, retain, set aside or store up for some particular use or purpose; to keep in reserve.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5394. Þai had noþer worth ne ware þat þai moght for þair mete spare. [Trin. MS. Þei hadde no þing ȝare þat þei myȝte to her lyuelode spare.]
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6502. The tother speire þat he sparit, [he] spent vpon hym.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 90. Land meadow that yeerly is spared for hay, now fence it and spare it.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, I. iii. (1660), 19. It is taken up and spared for necessary purposes.
1795. Gentl. Mag., 542/2. I request you will spare room for one tribute more to his memory.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xxvii. (ed. 3), 251. The proper description of which would require more space than we can conveniently spare for the purpose.
c. To set apart, save, or give (time) from one’s usual or ordinary duties or avocations; to have free, unoccupied, or unemployed.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 82 b. This … pollitique Capitayne lost not one houre, nor spared one mynet, till he came before the citie of Burdeaux.
1565. Cooper, s.v. Succisiuus, Time spared from other businesse.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 71. That Exercise taking up more time than can be spared from a studious man to get Knowledge.
1741–3. Wesley, Extr. Jrnl. (1749), 59. I take such a proportion of time as I can spare every night, to discourse with each child apart.
1788. G. Keate, Pelew Isl., xxiii. 297. The portion of time which they could spare from providing for their natural wants.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Tale of Tyne, vii. 126. Can you spare a minute, just to look out of this window?
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 423. Let all the citizens who can spare time hear and take a serious interest in listening to such causes.
d. In prec. senses as complement to the verbs have or be, or with ellipse of these.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 396. Whan Somer hath lost al his grene And is with Wynter wast and bare, That him is left nothing to spare.
1530. Palsgr., 726/1. Sownde, mariner, let us se what water we have to spare.
1550. Crowley, Last Trumpet, 1198. Thou haste no tyme to spare, and spende in bankettyng.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ch. Porch, xii. For we have wit to mark them, and to spare.
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., v. (1661), 102. These [bishops] were few enough for their own province, and none to spare for Britain.
1705. De Foe, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 322. I know your Lordship has but few minutes to spare.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 94. She brought me word she had no such sum to spare.
1836. Marryat, Japhet, xlvi. I had an hour to spare, before the coach started.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, v. 133. I won both events…, with three bullets to spare.
1878. Masque Poets, 13. If we had only time to spare To taste the glories of the Spring.
9. With direct and indirect object: a. To give or grant; to supply (a person) with (something) out of a stock, quantity, etc.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. vi. 78. Then the world go’s hard When Clifford cannot spare his Friends an oath.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit without M., I. ii. She may spare me her misen, and her bonnets, strike her main Petticoat, and yet outsail me.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 138. I was without any meat but what my Footman spared me out of his pocket.
1711. Lond. Gaz., No. 4887/3. They outrunning us so very much, that they spared us half their Sails.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 262. He spares me yet These chesnuts rang’d in corresponding lines.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xvii. Your nobleness will willingly spare your old servitor his crib and his mess.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VI. 242. And now A word, but one,… Not one to spare her: out upon you, flint!
† b. To allow (one) to utter (a word). Also ellipt. Obs.
1660. Trial Regic., 24. Spare me but one Word.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, 189. Out comes two or three ‘If you’ll give me leave’s,’ as many ‘Spare me’s,’ ‘with submission’s,’ and ‘I humbly conceive’s.’
c. To save or relieve (a person, one’s feelings, etc.) from (something).
1681. Dryden, Span. Friar, V. i. Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of Tears it cost you.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxix. Spare me the necessity of mentioning those circumstances. Ibid., xlvi. Adding that he would spare her any difficulties that might occur.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 216. I shall spare you … the reflections I have made on this occasion.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxix. 287. I had a set of signals … which spared us the noise of the voice.
1893. Sloane-Stanley, Remin. Midshipm. Life, vi. 82. I was, however, spared this infliction.
refl. 1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to Pope, 1 April. I might spare myself the trouble.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 626. I might spare myself the pains to show What few can learn.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., II. 102. We may spare ourselves the labour of looking for its essence.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, ii. Minerva thought wisely she could spare herself the expense of a master.
1884. Manch. Exam., 11 Oct., 5/1. They wrench off cupboard doors to spare themselves the trouble of closing them.
III. intr. 10. To spare for: a. To desist or refrain from some action because or on account of (difficulty, opposition, loss, etc.).
Freq. c. 1400; usually with a negative. Now arch.
a. 1300. Beket (Percy Soc.), 62. Heo wende alone … And ne sparede for no sorewe that miȝte come hire to.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 905. Bid him com hider with his ost,… For no thyng that he ne spare.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton), V. xiv. (1859), 81. For blandyssyng, for manace, ne for drede They spared not, but stoden by the trouthe.
c. 1430. How Gd. Wijf tauȝte hir Douȝtir, 12, in Babees Bk. Go to chirche whanne þou may, Loke þou spare for no reyn.
a. 1585. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 370. He is bot daft that hes ado, And spairis for euery speiche.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., V. xxxii. Spare not for spoiling of thy steed. Ibid. (1823), Quentin D., x. Throw down the screen—spare not for cup or goblet.
b. With negative: To refrain from action in order to avoid or save (expense, trouble, etc.); to be sparing of or in (something).
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 233. I shall spare for no spence & þu spede wele.
14[?]. Sir Beues (E.), 3310. Þey sparyd neyþer for syluyr ne golde.
1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 52. And sie the burgessis spair not for expence, Bot speid thame heir.
1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., I. iv. Spare for no cost.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, III. v. 66. And we must doe it wisely. Dogb. Wee will spare for no witte I warrant you.
1657. Earl Monm., trans. Paruta’s Pol. Disc., 55. Cæsar never spared for any labour by which he might hope to purchase renown and glory.
1681. Hickeringill, Sin Man-Catching, Wks. 1716, I. 178. They plot their Work,… spare for no pains, no cost, not daunted with any ill success.
1723. Briton, No. 12 (1724), 54. Crassus … spared for no Expence to purchase Voices.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 53. No Columns or Pilasters were spared for.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 305. They did not spare for cold water to throw in my face and upon me.
IV. 11. Combs. with the verbal stem, as spare-good, -penny, -thrift; also † spare-chest, a chest for spare money, a reserve fund.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Manger, Il est à table, & n’ose manger; (Applyable to a miserable spare-good).
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 298. The Retentive Knight: containing much wholesome Advice for saving the Ready, and being free of good Words. Dedicated to the Society of Spare-Pennies.
1768. Ann. Reg., I. 117. The extraordinary expences occasioned by his Sicilian majesty’s marriage … will not be levied upon the state, but defrayed out of the savings of the spare-chest.
1803. Ann. Rev., I. 423. The manufacturer has to deal … with the spendthrift and the sparethrift.
