Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPARE, v.t. [Sax. sparian; D. spaaren; G. sparen; Dan. sparer; Sw. spara; Fr. eparagner. It seems to be from the same root as L. parco; It. sparagnare.]

1. To use frugally; not to be profuse; not to waste. Thou thy Father's thunder didst not spare. – Milton.
2. To save or withhold from any particular use or occupation. He has no bread to spare, that is, to withhold from his necessary uses. All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he bestowed on prayer and serving God. – Knolles.
3. To part with without much inconvenience; to do without. I could have better spar'd a better man. – Shak. Nor can we spare you long. – Dryden.
4. To omit; to forbear. We might have spared this toil and expense. Be pleas'd your politics to spare. – Dryden.
5. To use tenderly; to treat with pity and forbearance; to forbear to afflict, punish or destroy. Spare us, good Lord. – Com. Prayer. Dim sadness did not spare / Celestial visages. – Milton. But man alone can whom He conquers spare. – Waller.
6. Not to take when in one's power; to forbear to destroy; as, to spare the life of a prisoner.
7. To grant; to allow; to indulge. Where angry Jove did never spare / One breath of kind and delicate air. – Roscommon.
8. To forbear to inflict or impose. Spare my sight the pain / Of seeing what a world of tears it cost you. – Dryden.