Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SAVE, v.t. [Fr. sauver, from L. salvo, It. salvare, Sp. salvar. As salve is used in Latin for salutation or wishing health, as hail is in English, I suspect this word to be from the root of heal or hail, the first letter being changed as in Gr. ἁλς, W. halen, salt. See Salt.]

1. To preserve from injury, destruction or evil of any kind; to rescue from danger; as, to save a house from the flames; to save a man from drowning; to save a family from ruin; to save a state from war. He cried, saying, Lord, save me. – Math. xiv. Gen. xiv.
2. To preserve from final and everlasting destruction; to rescue from eternal death. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. – 1 Tim. i.
3. To deliver; to rescue from the power and pollution of sin. He shall save his people from their sins. – Matth. i.
4. To hinder from being spent or lost; as, to save the expense of a new garment. Order in all affairs saves time.
5. To prevent. Method in affairs saves much perplexity.
6. To reserve or lay by for preservation. Now save a nation, and now save a groat. – Pope.
7. To spare; to prevent; to hinder from occurrence. Will you not speak to save a lady's blush? – Dryden. Silent and unobserv'd, to save his tears. – Dryden.
8. To salve; as, to save appearances. – Milton.
9. To take or use opportunely, so as not to lose. The ship sailed in time to save the tide.
10. To except; to reserve from a general admission or account. Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only. – Josh. xi. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes, save one. – 2 Cor. xi. [Save is here a verb followed by an object. It is the imperative used without a specific nominative; but it is now less frequently used than except.]