Sparingly
/ˈspɛr.ɪŋ.li/noun
In a restricted or limited way; not often or in large amounts.
Did you know?Sparingly comes from the Old English verb *spearian*, meaning “to save, spare, refrain,” ultimately tied to the idea of holding something back rather than releasing it freely.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sper-
“to strew, scatter; by extension, to spare or preserve”
Old English
OE
spearian
“to spare, refrain, show mercy, save”
Old English
OE
-lice
“adverb-forming suffix meaning “in the manner of””
Middle English
ME
sparingly
“in a frugal, restrained, or limited way”
Modern English
English
sparingly
“in a restricted or limited manner”