Obs. Also 4 spen. [Alteration of SPEND v.1]
1. trans. To spend, expend (money, goods, etc.).
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 31. Nabbe ic nawiht þer-of, ic hit habbe al ispened. Ibid., 79. A þe marȝen [he] bitahte him twa peneȝes to spenen on him.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1525. Þat were gulte, Þat leof is oþer wymmon to pulte & speneþ on þare al þat he haueþ.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 147. He nadde him-sulf nouȝt to spene.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XVIII. 71. Of þat þat holychurche of þe olde lawe cleymeþ, Priestes on aparail and on purnele spenen.
1400. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 6. Rather then I schuld fael he wold spene of his own godde xx. marke.
absol. c. 1205. Lay., 3302. Andd nowher heo ne spedet and auere heo spened.
b. To exact contributions from (tenants). Cf. SPEND v.1 1 d.
1538. St. Papers Hen. VIII., III. 48. His servauntes and his kerne dothe spene my tenauntes and fermoris in the barrony of Dunnbrathie.
2. To spend, in other senses; to employ, expend, make use of, use.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. Ðe underlinges þenchen oðe dai hu hie muȝen mest swinken and spenen here flesh and here blod on iuele swinche.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 322. Euerich tide & euerich time schal beon þer irikened, hwu hit was her ispened.
a. 1300. Sarmun, xlvii. in E. E. P. (1862), 6. What is þe ioi þat man sal hab if his lif he speniþ wel.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 876. But ȝe han dainte in dul ȝoure daies to spene.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., l. 555. Loke wel in þi mood Þi wit to spene wysliche.
Hence † Spening vbl. sb., spending, expenditure.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8001. In speninge he was fol large In herte þoru out prout.
