Spare v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.]
1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. “No cost would he spare.”
[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. --Milton.
He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. --Prov. xvii. 27.
2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.
Be pleased your plitics to spare. --Dryden.
Spare my sight the pain
Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. --Dryden.
3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.
Spare us, good Lord. --Book of Common Prayer.
Dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages. --Milton.
Man alone can whom he conquers spare. --Waller.
4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he ░estowed on . . . serving of God. --Knolles.
5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
Where angry Jove did never spare
One breath of kind and temperate air. --Roscommon.
I could have better spared a better man. --Shak.
To spare one's self. (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.]
Her thought that a lady should her spare. --Chaucer.
(b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.