Pa. t. and pa. pple. spent. Forms: Inf. 4–7 spende (5 spendyn), 4– spend. Pa. t. 3–5 spende; 4–5 spended (5 -ide, -yd; Sc. 5 -yt, 6 -it); 4 spente, 5– spent. Pa. pple. 3–4 i-spend, 4–6 spend(e; 3 i-spendet, 4 spendet, 5 -ut(te, 6 Sc. -it; 4 i-spended, 4–5 spendid, 4–6 -yd, spended (5 -ede); 2, 5 i-spent, 6 y-spent, 4– spent (6 spynt), 5–6 spente. [OE. *spendan (cf. spendung and á-, forspendan), ad. L. expendĕre (cf. It. spendere, Sp. espender), which was also adopted in other Germanic languages, as OHG. spendôn, spentôn (MHG. and G. spenden), OS. *spendôn (MLG. and MDu. spenden), ON. spenna. The ME. spende, however, may also have been formed aphetically from OF. despendre DISPEND v.: cf. SPENCE. From the early ME. pa. t. and pa. pple. a new inf. SPENE v. was formed, on the analogy of such verbs as wene ween; the converse process took place in LEND v.2]
I. trans. 1. Of persons: To pay out or away; to disburse or expend; to dispose of, or deprive oneself of, in this way.
The object is usually money, or a particular sum of this, but occas. a more general term denoting property or wealth, esp. in earlier use.
c. 1175. Moral Ode, 28, in O. E. Hom., I. 161. Al to muchel ich habbe ispent, to litel ihud in horde.
c. 1280. Sarmun, 25, in E. E. P. (1862), 4. And bot þou hit hab ispend ariȝte Þe gode þat god þe haþ ilend of ihsu criste þou lesist þe siȝt.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17507. Þai … gaf þam giftes gret to spend.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 5. Lest freris ypocrisie and wynnyng be stoppid and þe peples almes betere spendid.
1436. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 190. Oure money [is] spente alle to lytelle avayle.
c. 1491. Chast. Goddes Chyld. (Caxton), 69. Riches and worshippes ben but lente to man for a tyme to yelde rekeninge of hem how they ben spended.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lx. 211. To seke hym I haue spent all my golde and syluer.
1574. J. Dee, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 34. I have … spent very many hundred powndes.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 5. After he had spent most part of his means, he became a soldier.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 406. The Farmer to full Bowls invites his Friends, And what he got with Pains, with Pleasure spends.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., II. § 2. When money is spent, it is all one to the public who spends it.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. iii. (1904), I. 378. That portion of his revenue which a rich man annually spends.
1827. Scott, Chron. Canongate, iii. If I lost the estate, I at least spent the price.
1894. Temple Bar, CII. 340. She spent his money and led him such a life.
prov. 1548. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), II. App. Q. 51. Evil gotten, worse spent.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 62. Soone gotten, soone spent, yll gotten yll spent. Ibid., 154. Lyttle good, soone spended.
fig. 1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 41. Sir, if you spend word for word with me, I shall make your wit bankrupt.
1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Prol. And for Wit, those that boast their own Estate, Forget Fletcher and Ben before them went, Their Elder Brothers, and that vastly spent.
b. Const. with prepositions, as † about, for, in, on, or upon.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 101. For hare sake ane dale ha etheold of hire ealdrene god & spende al þet oðer in neodfule & in nakede.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 101. On leches heo hadde i-spendet Muche del of hire guod.
c. 1325. in Pol. Songs (Camden), 69. He spende al is tresour opon swyvyng.
c. 1400. Brut, clxxiii. 195. His tresoure þat he hade spendede about his werre.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., x. 32 (Harl. MS.). Also he spende ijd vpon him selfe.
1528. Star Chamber Cases (Selden), II. 177. [He] says he hasse a Ml pownd to spend in the law ayenst hys Neyburus.
1578. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 307. For sondrey parcells by him boughte & brought into the office to be spente about the rock.
1611. Bible, Isaiah lv. 2. Wherefore doe yee spend money for that which is not bread?
1696. Prideaux, Lett. (Camden), 176. After all ye interest he could make and many thousands spent in ye canvas.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 56. The poor Souls … are oblig’d to spend their Pay upon the very Wine that was assign’d them.
1735. Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Descr. i. 45. They … spent their Wealth in costly Ornaments for Churches, and Vessels for the Altars.
1883. F. M. Peard, Contrad., I. 23. She spent a fortune in shoes and gloves.
1897. W. C. Hazlitt, Four Generations, II. 185. When his lordship told her that he had spent upon her enough to build the Great Eastern.
† c. To give away (a garment) in payment. Obs.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 157. Brynge hedyr þat pilgrym þat spendyd ȝister evyn his slaueyn at þe wyn!
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 133. He loues women well; he will spende Goddes Coope if he had it.
1575. Gamm. Gurton, II. iv. 40. By the masse, chil rather spend the cote that is on my backe!
† d. To levy charges on (a person). Only in the phrase spend me and defend me. Obs.
1590. Payne, Brief Descr. Ireland (1841), 4. They haue a common saying which I am persuaded they speak vnfeinedly, which is, Defend me and spend me.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 624/1. They … are very loth to yeld any certayne rent, but onely such spendinges, saying commonly, ‘Spend me and defend me.’
† c. With dative of the person whose money is expended. Obs.
1609. B. Jonson, Sil. Woman, IV. i. She spends me forty pounds a year in mercury and hogs-bones.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 21 Feb. A little vexed to see myself so beset with people to spend me money.
2. absol. To exercise, make, or incur expenditure of money, goods, means, etc.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8026. Him ne roȝte hou he spende, ne wat, he was so prout.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1157. Not Avarice … Was half to gripe so ententyf, As Largesse is to yeve and spende.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 207. Þi wyif & chyld muste sparyngly … spendyn of þi euyl getyn good.
1530. Palsgr., 728/1. This gere can nat laste longe, for he spendeth a pace and getteth nothyng.
1595. Lodge, Fig for Momus, H 1 b. Spend on thy house, to tyle it from the raine.
1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, VI. 115. These Strangers,… spending high, and making such cheer as the others were not accustomed to see.
1860. Ruskin, Unto this Last, iv. § 72. The vital question for individual and for nation is … ‘to what purpose do they spend?’
1869. Lowell, Under Willows, 162. To spend in all things else, But of old friends to be most miserly.
prov. 1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 54. Spend, and god shall send,… saith tholde ballet.
1636. Sir R. Baker, Cato Variegatus, 32. Tis an old saying; spend, and God will send; But what? Beggery, and Barenesse, in the end.
b. In the phrase to spend and be spent.
1611. Bible, 2 Cor. xii. 15. And I wil very gladly spend and bee spent for you.
1694. Penn, Rise & Progr. Quakers, iii. 66. They could have no design to themselves in this Work, thus to expose themselves to Scorn and Abuse; to spend and be spent.
1828. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 236. Counting it blessedness enough so to spend and be spent.
3. To expend or employ (labor, material, thought, etc.) in some specified way: a. Const. on or upon.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20857. It es na spede our suinc to spend On thing we may noght bring til end.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6502. The tother speire, þat he sparit, [he] spent vpon hym.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 541. The plauntys sette is stonys to sustene, And donged lond vpon the rootys spende.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 74. You spend your passion on a misprisd mood.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iv. § 2. Then did Sturmius spend such infinite and curious pains upon Cicero the Orator.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. vii. § 1. Their great R. Abravanel, who spends his whole 13 Chapter de capite fidei upon it.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 19. He spends a great deal of puzzling Thought upon his Boat’s Crew.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), I. 2. It concerns the judicious Husbandman to consider the Nature of the Land he is to spend his Time, Cost and Labour upon.
1822. Lamb, Elia, I. Distant Corresp. As useless as a passion spent upon the dead.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 170. Why do you spend many words and speak in many ways on this subject?
b. Const. in.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28493. O spusail i haf þe halines In lust al spended o my fles.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxix. 9. Ȝe neid nocht … paper for to spend, nor ink, In the ressaueing of my soumes.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 19. To be counted wise, In spending your wit in the praise of mine.
1663. Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, II. (1911), 181. All the paines and cost therein spent was casting good money after bad.
1696. Tate & Brady, Ps. cii. 5. I spend my Breath in Groans.
1728. Pemberton, Newton’s Philos., 319. It will be necessary to spend a few words in explaining what is meant by the refraction of light.
1889. Nature, 24 Oct., 613. The equivalence of the work spent in overcoming fluid.
c. With other constructions.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2431. Þe byhoves acounte yhelde … how þow has spendyd þi wittes fife.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 224. For the better thy speche thou spende.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XLIV. (Percy Soc.), 214. And thus in vaine thou hast thy labour spent.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iv. 176. My study myght be better spynt.
1619. Fletcher, etc. Knt. Malta, III. ii. My last breath cannot Be better spent, than to say I forgive you.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xx. 175. I would spend my best endeavours for the helping and furthering of them.
a. 1763. W. King, Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819), 154. To spend three or four whole pages to prove that this is neither Latin nor sense.
d. To express (an opinion). Now dial.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To spend his Verdict, to give one’s Opinion.
1902. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 19 July, 209. An Ulster man will ask his medical adviser to ‘spend his opinion’ on a case.
4. To employ, occupy, use or pass (time, one’s life, etc.) in or on some action, occupation or state.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28259. Þo tyme þat ic in lijf has lende In idel-nes ic haue it spende.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 650, Cleopatra. And thus the longe day in fight they spende.
c. 1482. J. Kay, trans. Caoursin’s Siege of Rhodes (1870), ¶ 2. The space of .iii. yeres which were spended and occupped in the conseylyng of thes werkes.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXI. (Percy Soc.), 150. That you your youth in ydelness wyll spende.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 137. The space of two dayes followyng, was spent in Godly admonitions.
1600. Holland, Livy, X. xxii. 367. Thus in handling of these matters was that day spent.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. ii. 52. Men … spending their spare-time on this Practice.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 142. After about half an hour spent in surveying this place.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. vii. 69. Philip, whose Youth was spent in Feats of War.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. iv. 19. He spent his time in training horses.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. iii. Christophe de Beaumont, who has spent his life in persecuting hysterical Jansenists.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, viii. 112. The morning … was spent in walking about Morlaix.
b. With other complements.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxxii. 347. Þenk þenne … Hou þou hast spendet þi tyme honeste.
a. 1440. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., 19. Þan sall þou besyly thynke how þou hase spende þat day (or þat nyghte).
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 243. Would you haue me spend the floure of my youth, as you doe the withered rase of your age?
1621. T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 46. Young men (for the most part) spend their time badly.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 56. They are extreamly Lazy, spending the whole day sitting on a Divan.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. v. (1841), I. 109. How do they spend the sabbath at your aunt’s?
1799. Han. More, Fem. Educ. (ed. 4), I. 120. They do not scruple to allow their daughters to spend almost the whole of their time exactly like the daughters of worldly people.
1808. Scott, in Lockhart (1837), I. i, 35. My time with him, though short, was spent greatly to my advantage.
1891. Marie A. Brown, trans. Runeberg’s Nadeschda, 13. Many hours had been thus sweetly spent.
c. ellipt. To pass (the day, evening, etc.) in social intercourse or entertainment, or as a guest.
1697. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 51. Mrs. Atkinson invited Lady Harriot and Lady Anne Churchill one day to dine with her, in her chamber, and spend the day.
1843. Dickens, Christm. Carol, iii. The very lamp-lighter … was dressed to spend the evening somewhere.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. iii. 31. I’m so glad you ’s come! Missis is gone to spend the afternoon.
5. To use up; to exhaust or consume by use; to wear out. In later use freq. with force, fury, etc., as object.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8332. Þe sarazins wiþoute wuste … Þat no maner liflode ne miȝte to hom wende; So þat þo hii adde ispend þat wiþinne was [etc.].
a. 1375. Lay Folks Mass-Bk., App. iv. 347. Whon his parchemyn was al spende, He rauhte þe Rolle bi þe ende Wiþ his teth a-non.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 331. Þey chaungede nevere hosen and schoon, noþer cloþinge, but whan þey were i-tore or i-spend.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 206. And it be spendyd or wastyd, þou art noȝt bounde to restore it.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. xxxii. 23. I wil heape myscheues vpon them, I wil spende all myne arowes at [1611 vpon] them.
1580[?]. Lodge, Sch. Abuse, A iv. Did not they spende one candle by seeking another.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 281. If Cupid haue not spent all his Quiuer in Venice.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ch. Porch, li. If thou be Master-gunner, spend not all That thou canst speak, at once.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 176. The Thunder … Perhaps hath spent his shafts.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 90. A great Contention of the Mind spends the Spirits, but if it be moderate, it only spends the Humidity of the Lympha.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, VII. 220. Erring from the course, In mazes wide, the rower spent his force.
1781. J. Moore, View Soc. It. (1790), I. viii. 87. Having spent their fury in the destruction of the tyrant.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., To spend all your ammunition.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 285. Meanwhile the war, which seemed for the moment to have spent its force in Italy, had broken out with fresh fury in Sicily.
transf. a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 104. Into them he put all such as he suspected for enemies at home, desiring Cambyses that he would spend them there, and never send them home again.
b. To bring to a violent end; to destroy; to consume by destruction or wasting; † to disperse or dissipate; to reduce or convert into something.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 2010. Tho men of armes theder went, Anon they had theyre hors spent, Her guttys oute she rave.
1481. Cely Papers (Camden), 80. Aull the whowlschypys ar cwm to Calles savyng vij qwher of ij be spent.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 133. The saide William W. occupyed the sayde shyppe and spent her att Caleys, in soo moche that alle the gables, sayles, and other takell … he solde them at Caleis.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xxi. 104. On the countrie of Scotland … Thair is na mendis … With speid till thay be spendit.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. xvii. 47. Each branch … being again divided into other lesser ones, they are at last spent into Veins and Arteries as smal as Hairs.
1672. H. Savile, Engagement with Dutch Fleet, 6. A Fireship [was] taken, and we forced them to Spend most of the rest.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, lxiv. 81. When a plague so deadly … Spent that slender city.
† c. Of emotion, action, etc.: To deprive (a person) of energy, strength or resources; to exhaust or wear out. Obs.
1582. T. Watson, Centurie of Love, xix. 55. I whom Loue hath spent.
1616. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., VIII. 30. Tell him I will auxiliaries send him, gainst warrs all difficulties, whiche maie spende him.
1674. Flavel, Husb. Spiritualized, Proem 9. It spends a Minister to preach, but more to be silent.
d. refl. Of persons or things: To exhaust or wear out (oneself or itself); to become incapable of further activity; to cease to operate.
(a) a. 1593. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. i. Here in this bush … will I stand, Whiles my Aeneas spends himself in plaints.
1613. Heywood, Braz. Age, II. ii. Wks. 1874, III. 208. Why should we … spend ourselues on accidentall wrongs?
1658. I. Langley, in Thurloe Papers, VII. 463. They [Quakers] cry out soe loude in their preachings, that they … spend themselves extreemly.
1718. Hickes & Nelson, J. Kettlewell, I. xx. 44. He spending himself … in his Labours of Love.
1831. Mrs. Sherwood, Henry Milner, III. vii. 123–4 Suppose you go and spend yourself with a run,… and then we will have some discourse.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. IV. viii. Man after man spends himself in this cause.
1868. Nettleship, Ess. Browning, vi. 233. He never rested until he had spent himself in asserting those claims.
(b) 1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgrim, xxiii. (1687), 236. This voice was intercepted by a new passion like to the former, though it was not long before it had spent it self.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., III. 155. Camphire, which spends itself by continually Effluviating its own component Particles.
1705. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., III. Pain, 25. For Torment like a Storm spends itself, and is destroy’d by its own Force.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir., Pref. (1782), p. ix. The popular Clamour may have spent itself.
1791. Cowper, Yardley Oak, 86. Thought cannot spend itself, comparing still The great and little of thy lot.
6. To suffer the loss of (blood, life, etc.); to allow to be shed or spilt.
[a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xx. 1. Swa that … he spend noght his preciouse blode in vayn on vs.]
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5440. Wenyng with hym they wolde abide … And also for hem to spende her bloode.
1516. Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 37/2. For conservacioun of quhais persoun we ar determit to spend oure Livis.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 6. Knowing that whereas one death is dewe to nature, the same is more honourably spent in such attemptes as may be to the glorye of God.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 125. To royalize his blood, I spent mine owne.
1751. Affect. Narr. of Wager, 53. They … would still spend their Lives for his Defence.
1868. Nettleship, Ess. Browning, vi. 158. Money which they had spent no sweat to obtain.
† b. Naut. To lose or incur the loss of (a mast, yard, sail, etc.) through bad weather or by some accident. Obs. (Freq. in the 17th c.)
1591. Hon. Actions of E. Glemham, Cij. In which storme he spent his Maine Mast, which had beene before fysht.
c. 1635. Capt. N. Boteler, Dial. Sea Service (1685), 164. When a Mast, or Yard is broken down by foul Weather, or any other accident, the Sea-word is, the Mast or Yard is spent.
1665. Lond. Gaz., No. 14/3. She was much beaten at Sea by storm, having spent her Main-mast and Fore-mast.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. xviii. 79. Lest we should spend our Topsails.
7. To use for food or drink; to consume in this way; to eat or drink.
Common from c. 1550 to c. 1700, freq. with the addition in one’s house or family; now dial.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 217. God made alle goode mete & drynke couenable for men schulden spende it & lyue þer-by.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 13410 (Trin.). Þe good drynke shulde furst spende [Cott. dispend] And þe weiker at þe ende.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, lvi. 74. Of Cornes ȝe haven … gret plente, More thanne be ȝoure howshold spendid schal be.
1468. Cov. Leet Bk., 338. Hit is ordeyned þat no householder frohensfurth bye no more butter þen he well spend in his owne house.
1551. Ascham, Lett., Wks. 1865, I. II. 257. Isles … so full of walnut trees that they cannot be spent with eating, but they make oile of them.
1577. Harrison, England, in Holinshed (1587), 170/1. Malt … feedeth vpon the hop,… which being extinguished the drinke must be spent or else it dieth.
1657. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer (1661), 279. If any of the Bread and Wine remain,… if consecrated, it is all to be spent … by the Communicants.
1670. J. Smith, Eng. Improv. Reviv’d, 190. Houses for keeping Pheasants, Partridges, and other Fowl to be spent in the Family, or sold at Markets.
1719. London & Wise, Compl. Gard., 44–5. So great a quantity of Fruit..., that ’twill be all we can do to spend them before the Rottenness … surprizes them.
1743. Lond. & Country Brewer, II. (ed. 2), 155. For Beer or Ale that is to be spent presently, two, three, or four, to eight Bushels will suffice.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, s.v., We spend so much meat, flour, cheese, &c. in our family weekly.
absol. c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., IV. 404. Or let a tonne of barly hem comprende Vchon from other; close hit til thou spende.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 202. Thairfoir sic [good fare] as thow seis, spend on, and not spair.
† b. To serve, serve up (a dish, food, etc.). Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4324. Þann were spacli spices spended al a-boute, fulsumli at þe ful to eche freke þer-inne.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 31. Make hit þyke inowghe þenne, Whenne þou hit spendes byfore gode menne.
c. Agric. To use (a crop, hay, etc.) as food or fodder for cattle; to eat off.
1733. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., x. 104. There are now Three Manners of Spending Turneps with Sheep.
1764. Museum Rust., II. lix. 171. When I sow vetches before wheat, I always, in the spending my crop, have regard to the condition of my land.
1789. T. Wright, Meth. Watering Meadows (1790), 7. The farmer … has an hundred tons of hay to carry off and spend upon his other ground.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, s.v., To spend all the stover, straw, and turnips on the land.
8. To make use of; to use or employ. Now rare.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2458. Sparrethis spetous to spend & speris in handis.
c. 1450. Vrbanitatis, 74, in Babees Bk. In chambur among ladyes bryȝth, Kepe þy tonge & spende þy syȝth.
1570. J. Campion, in Hakluyt’s Voy. (1599), II. I. 117. The oiles which we do spend in England for our cloth, are brought out of Spaine.
1621. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), I. 259. In other places yt [i.e., coral] ys much spent to burne with the dead.
a. 1692. Pollexfen, Disc. Trade (1697), 129. If it be considered that all persons of all degrees, did wear, or spend, some of those Commodities.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 12 Oct. 1641. A Light-horse-man (as they call it) taking us in, we spent our tide as far as Greenwich.
1845. Browning, Time’s Revenges, 47. You shall see how the Devil spends A fire God gave for other ends!
9. To expend or employ (speech or language); to utter or emit (a word, sound, etc.).
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 410. If I spende no speche, þenne spedez þou þe better.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 50. Ac he þat spendeþ his speche and spekeþ for þe pore.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 274. I knaw quhat thou of rethorike hes spent.
1576. Gascoigne, Philomene, Wks. 1910, II. 181. The piteous pleasant notes, Which Phylomene doth darkely spend in spring.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. v. 38. I may embrace his Neck, And in his Bosom spend my latter gaspe.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, N. T., 20. However the false pretenders unto Wisdom are ready … to spend their censures thus injuriously.
† b. To spend the mouth, tongue, etc. Of hunting dogs: To bark or give tongue on finding or seeing the game. Also fig. Obs.
1590. Cockaine, Treat. Hunting, D ij b. He will vent so oft, and put vp ouer water, at which time the houndes will spend their mouthes verie lustely.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 70. Coward Dogs Most spend their mouths.
a. 1627. H. Shirley, Mart. Soldier, III. i. in Bullen, O. Pl. (1882), I. 203. A packe of the bravest Spartan Dogges in the world; if they do but once open and spend there gabble, gabble, gabble it will make the Forest ecchoe.
1657. R. Ligon, Barbadoes, 3. The onely difference I finde is, these doe not spend their mouthes, but what they want in that is supplyed by the goodnesse of their noses.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, IV. 228. Nor was it Reason that the gutted Fops Should spend their Tongues, who could not use their Chops.
† c. absol. = prec. Obs.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return Parnass., II. v. 826. Hunters luck Sir, but there was a fault in your Hounds that did not spend well.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, 12. The Ven’sons now in view, our hounds spend deeper.
1672. R. Wild, Poet. Licent., 39. Hanging ’s the end By Huntsmen’s Rule, of Hounds that will not spend.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. i. 290. Then draw with more Care, checking your Hound, lest he spends when he comes so near as to have him in the Wind.
fig. 1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 3. For then reason like a bad hound spends upon a false sent.
1682. S. Pordage, Medal Rev., 233. Let the hot Tories, and their Poet Curse, They spend in vain, and you are ne’r the worse.
d. To allow or cause to flow; to shed.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. C 2 b. If hee is guiltlesse, why should teares be spent?
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 373. Whether any part of the Tree (as Body, Root, or Branch) will spend it [i.e., gum] being purposely Wounded.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxvi. And you, Sir Knight, think better of us than to suppose you may spend Scottish blood, and reckon for it as for wine spilt in a drunken revel.
10. To consume, employ, use superfluously, wastefully, or with undue lavishness; to waste or squander; to throw away.
In some instances the sense is conveyed by the addition of in vain, to no purpose, etc.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 395. Many on … Whiche after felle in gret desese Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXI. (Percy Soc.), 154. Wo worth love that I do spend in wast.
1530. Palsgr., 728/1. I spende, as men … wastyth any thyng in vayne, je consume.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 22. Wherby it commeth to passe, that such quick and hastie Harquebuziers, doo worke no other effect but spend powder, match & shot.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 195. What’s the matter That you vnlace your reputation thus, And spend your rich opinion, for the Name Of a night-brawler?
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 61. The impatient horses … do spend before the race thousand and thousand steppes to no purpose.
1827. Scott, Highl. Widow, v. I am a fool … to spend my words upon an idle … unintelligent boy.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, xi. The horror and disgust of the creature on whom you spent your life!
b. To waste (time).
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Ireland (1809), 123. Brother Lazerianus (saith he) let us not spend time, neither trouble this people with this tedious question.
1658–9. Sir R. Temple, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 44. I am sorry this has spent your time. I do not see what fruit you will have by recommitting it, unless to spend as much more of your time.
1720. J. Clarke, Educ. Youth, 27. Those vain Amusements that have been found out to make Boys spend their Time at School.
11. To allow (time, one’s life, etc.) to pass or go by; to live or stay through (a certain period) to the end. Cf. sense 4.
1423. Acts Privy Counc., III. 90. His forsayd retenu … continued fro yere to yere unto four yer was nere spendid and passid.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 501. Tho iij dayes spende, They vessel hit.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxix. 35. Remember thow hes compt to mak Off all thi tyme thow spendit heir.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 191. Spending all the daies of my life, in the mansion of the same monastery.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 12. I spent this winter at Leipzig.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 7. His son … went to the Low Country Wars, and after some time spent there, came home.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 1. If you and Dion would spend a week at my house.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 547. And now she roams The dreary waste; there spends the livelong day.
1854. Ld. Houghton, in T. W. Reid, Life (1891), I. xi. 498. I have been spending six weeks in Ireland.
1885. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xx. 152. A journey into the country after church affords perhaps the most rational and pleasant way of spending Sunday.
† 12. To cause or involve expenditure of (something). Obs.
1616. Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 248. The putting off of the arraignments spent much money.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 451. If 5 Guns in 2 Days spend 60 Barrels of Powder: [etc.]?
1703. R. N[eve], City & C. Purchaser, 276. A great Covering with these spends but little Mortar … and but little time in laying.
b. To occupy, take up, or waste (time). † Also with double object.
a. 1627. Donne, Lett. (1651), 172. It spent me so little time after going, that [etc.]. Ibid. (a. 1631), Six Serm., i. (1634), 2. That earth and that heaven which spent God himself … six dayes in finishing.
a. 1649. Winthrop, New Eng. (1825), I. 140. The main business, which spent the most time,… was about the removal of Newtown.
13. Const. with adverbs, as away, out, up, in various senses.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 609/2. Therin he spendeth vp that Chapiter.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 16 b. Some ther bee, that in lyngreyng & drivyng foorth … spenden out all their life.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 405. I was fully determined … to haue spent away the tedious time, in some talke.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 157 b. The Cornish forces … encamped themselues on the greene,… and there spent out the night.
1650. Trapp, Comm. Deut. xxxii. 23. ‘I will spend mine arrowes,’ which yet cannot be all spent up.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxvii. She … reproached herself for having flung away such a treasure. It was gone indeed. William had spent it all out.
II. intr. † 14. Of time, the season, etc.: To pass, elapse. Obs.
1607. S. Collins, Serm. (1608), 11. To finish this, because the time spendeth so fast.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 246. Before the palace all the cowrt attends The Queen’s aryvall, whil the morning spends.
1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 120. The time and season of the year spending for the ship to proceed on her voyage.
† 15. To be consumed, dispersed, exhausted, or used up; to pass off or away. Obs.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 129. The Sound spendeth, and is dissipated in the Open Aire. Ibid., § 622. The Vines … are so often cut, and so much digged and dressed, that their Sap spendeth into the Grapes.
1642. J. Steer, trans. Exp. Chyrurg., vi. 25. He shall diligently take notice how the blacknesse of the powder spendeth away.
1704. N. N., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., III. 247. [They] never thought it worth their while to examine how the Oil spent, or the Taper burn’d.
† b. Of a storm: To die down, exhaust its force or fury. Obs.–1
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., III. Thalia Rediv., 237. Giving the tempest time to spend.
16. Of foodstuffs, wheat, hay, etc.: To turn out or prove in use to be of a certain quality; to last or hold out well. Now dial.
1673. Temple, Ess., Ireland, Wks. 1720, I. 115. They had observed [that] it [i.e., butter] spent as if it came from the richest Soil of the two.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., s.v., Meat that spends well.
1763. Museum Rust., I. 156. It [wheat] was sold in the public markets, and declared … to spend as well as if it had been of the last year’s growth. Ibid. (1764), II. 210. Yet did this hay spend as well as if it had been got in never so favourably.
1840. Spurdens, Suppl. Forby’s E. Angl. Gloss., s.v., The meal spends well, i.e. it holds out well; lasts long.
b. dial. To produce or yield (well).
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., Corn that yields well is said to spend well.
1893. Wilts. Gloss., 152. How do your taters spend to-year?
17. Of a liquid: To flow or run. ? Obs.
1735. Dict. Polygraph., I. S 4. White-lead,… let it be as stiff as it well can be to spend well from the pencil.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 28. Taking particular Care … to return two, three, or more Hand-bowls of Wort into the Mash-tub, that first of all runs off, till it comes absolutely fine and clear, and then it may spend away, or run off for good.
1811. Self Instructor, 535. Fustic … spends with or without salts.
