Spare
/spɛər/noun
To refrain from harming or killing; to save or keep free from injury.
Did you know?The word "spare" is linked to the concept of sacrifice, as it originally referred to the act of withholding something valuable, often in religious contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sp(h)er-
“to scatter, to disperse, emphasizing the act of giving or making something available.”
Old English
Old English
spearian
“to save, to spare, often referring to preserving life or resources.”
Middle English
Middle English
speren
“to save or refrain from using, reflecting the idea of conservation.”
Modern English
English
spare
“to refrain from use or harm, retaining the older sense of preserving something valuable.”