■ noun
1》 an economy of or reduction in money, time, etc.
2》 ( ~s ) money saved, especially through a bank or official scheme.
3》 Law a reservation; an exception.
■ adjective [in combination ] preventing waste of a particular resource: an energy-~ light bulb.
■ preposition
1》 except.
2》 archaic with due respect to.
Origin
ME: from save 1 ; the preposition prob. from save 2 , on the pattern of touching .