to refrain from harming or punishing someone, or to give something to someone without needing it yourself.
From Old English 'sparian,' related to Old High German 'sparen' and other Germanic languages. May derive from a root meaning 'to be frugal' or 'to refrain.' Used since before 1000 CE.
The word 'spare' has two opposite meanings depending on context: 'spare someone's life' (don't harm) versus 'spare change' (extra). English is full of these contradictions that somehow make perfect sense!
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