• Spare

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈspɛə(ɹ)/
    • Rhymes: -ɛə(r)

    Origin 1

    From Middle English spare, spar, from Old English spær ("sparing, scant"), from Proto-Germanic *sparaz (compare Dutch spaarzaam, German sparsam, German spärlich, Swedish sparsam, Icelandic sparr ("sparing")), from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (cf. Latin prosper ‘lucky’, Old Church Slavonic sporŭ ‘plentiful’, Albanian shperr ‘to earn money’, Persian سپار ‘entrust; deposit’, Ancient Greek sparnós ‘rare’, Sanskrit sphirá ‘thick’).

    Full definition of spare

    Adjective

    spare

    1. scanty; not abundant or plentiful.a spare diet
      • 2012, May 24, Nathan Rabin, Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3, Jones’ sad eyes betray a pervasive pain his purposefully spare dialogue only hints at, while the perfectly cast Brolin conveys hints of playfulness and warmth while staying true to the craggy stoicism at the character’s core.
    2. sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
      • CarewHe was spare, but discreet of speech.
    3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous.I have no spare time.
      • Spenserif that no spare clothes he had to give
    4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency.a spare anchor; a spare bed or room
    5. lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
      • ShakespeareO, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones.
    6. (obsolete, UK, dialect) slow

    Derived terms

    Noun

    spare

    (plural spares)
    1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint.
      • HollandKilling for sacrifice, without any spare.
    2. Parsimony; frugal use.
      • SpenserPoured out their plenty without spite or spare.
    3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket.
    4. That which has not been used or expended.
    5. A spare part, especially a spare tire.
    6. (bowling) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare.
    7. (bowling) The act of knocking down all remaining pins in second ball of a frame; this entitles the pins knocked down on the next ball to be added to the score for that frame.

    Origin 2

    From Middle English sparen, sparien, from Old English sparian ("to spare, show mercy to, refrain from injuring or destroying"), from Proto-Germanic *sparōną, *sparjaną ("to save, keep, spare"), from Proto-Indo-European *sper- ("to be productive, earn"). Cognate with Scots spar, spare, spair ("to spare"), West Frisian sparje ("to save, spare"), Dutch sparen ("to save, spare"), German sparen ("to save, conserve, economise"), Swedish spara ("to save, save up"), Icelandic spara ("to save, conserve").

    Verb

    1. To show mercy.
      1. (intransitive) To desist; to stop; to refrain.
      2. (intransitive) To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
      3. (transitive) To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy.
    2. To keep.
      1. (intransitive) To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
        • unknown date Alexander Pope (1688-1744)I, who at some times spend, at others spare,
          Divided between carelessness and care.
      2. (transitive) To keep to oneself; to forbear to impart or give.
        Spare the rod and spoil the child.
        • unknown date John MiltonThou thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare.
        • unknown date Bible, Proverbs xvii. 27He that hath knowledge, spareth his words.
      3. (transitive)} To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
        • unknown date KnollesAll the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he bestowed on ... serving of God.
    3. (transitive) (to give up) To deprive oneself of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
      • unknown date RoscommonWhere angry Jove did never spare
        One breath of kind and temperate air.
      • unknown date ShakespeareI could have better spared a better man.
      • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 22, Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part....Next day she...tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head. Then, thwarted, the wretched creature went to the police for help; she was versed in the law, and had perhaps spared no pains to keep on good terms with the local constabulary.

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