\Spare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spared}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sparing}.] [AS. sparian, fr. sp[ae]r spare, sparing, saving;
akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. spar?n, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan.
spare See {Spare}, a.]
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.'' --Chaucer.
         [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.

\Spare\, v. i.
1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be
   parsimonious.
         I, who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided
         between carelessness and care.        --Pope.
2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or
   forbearance.
         He will not spare in the day of vengeance. --Prov.
                                               vi. 34.
3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

\Spare\, a. [Compar. {Sparer}; superl. {Sparest}; -- not
used in all the senses of the word.] [AS. sp[ae]r sparing.
Cf. {Spare}, v. t. ]
1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.
2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
         He was spare, but discreet of speech. --Carew.
3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be
   used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous;
   as, I have no spare time.
         If that no spare clothes he had to give. --Spenser.
4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare
   anchor; a spare bed or room.
5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
         O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great
         ones.                                 --Shak.
6. Slow. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] --Grose.

\Spare\, n.
1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [Obs.]
         Killing for sacrifice, without any spare. --Holland.
2. Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] --Bacon.
         Poured out their plenty without spite or spare.
                                               --Spenser.
3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. [Obs.]
4. That which has not been used or expended.
5. (Tenpins) 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.