n.
Pronunciation: ' sper
Function: verb
Inflected Form: spared ; spar · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sparian; akin to Old High German spar ō n to spare, Old English spær, adjective, scant
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to forbear to destroy, punish, or harm
2 : to refrain from attacking or reprimanding with necessary or salutary severity
3 : to relieve of the necessity of doing or undergoing something < spare yourself the trouble>
4 : to refrain from : AVOID < spared no expense>
5 : to use or dispense frugally ― used chiefly in the negative <don't spare the syrup>
6 a : to give up as not strictly needed <do you have any cash to spare > b : to have left over or as margin <time to spare >
intransitive verb
1 : to be frugal
2 : to refrain from doing harm
– spare · able \ - ə -b ə l \ adjective
– spar · er noun