Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPEND, v.t. [pret. and pp. spent. Sax. spendan; Sw. spendera; Dan. spanderer; It. spendere; L. expendo, from the participle of which is Fr. depenser; from the root of L. pando, pendeo, the primary sense of which is to strain, to open or spread; allied to span, pane, &c. and probably to Gr. σπενδω, to pour out.]

1. To lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spend money for clothing. Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread? – Is. iv.
2. To consume; to waste; to squander; as, to spend an estate in gaming or other vices.
3. To consume; to exhaust. The provisions were spent, and the troops were in want.
4. To bestow for any purpose; often with on or upon. It is folly to spend words in debate on trifles.
5. To effuse. [Little used.] – Shak.
6. To pass, as time; to suffer to pass away. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. – Job xiii.
7. To lay out; to exert or to waste; as, to spend one's strength.
8. To exhaust of force; to waste; to wear away; as, a ball had spent its force. The violence of the waves was spent. Heaps of spent arrows fall and strew the ground. – Dryden.
9. To exhaust of strength; to harass; to fatigue. Their bodies spent with long labor and thirst. – Knolles.