Spare \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Spare \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Spare \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Spare \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)