[f. as prec.]
1. Inclined to save; exercising economy or frugality in using or spending; niggard.
pred. c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 633. Ye schul use the richesses … in such a maner, that men holde yow not skarce ne to sparynge.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5363. The riche men are loved ay, And namely tho that sparand bene.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 66. Sho was so sparand, at sho wolde giff nothyng … vnto pure folke.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 11. He was so couetous and sparing, that he woulde spende nothing more than he needes must.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 1147. It [sc. love] shall be sparing and too full of riot.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. 447. The wise frugality, that … saves to live: Sparing, not pinching, mindful though not mean.
attrib. c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 245. When he was a monke, he was a passand hard man, & a sparand.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., III. i. 27. A niggardly Host, and more sparing guest.
1601. F. Godwin, Bps. of Eng., 94. He was a very frugal and sparing man, neuer esteeming pompe or outward brauery.
1639. J. Clarke, Parœmiologia, 261. A sparing father, and a spending son.
1759. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, III. 256. I most earnestly entreat you will not delay the supplies, nor deal them out with a sparing hand.
transf. 1766. Johnson, Lett., 14 Jan., in Boswell. The reasons, good or bad, which have made me such a sparing and ungrateful correspondent.
b. Observing economy or moderation, avoiding excess, in some specified respect. Const. in, of, † for, or † to (with inf.).
(a) 1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. v. 217. Nature seemes more sparing in bringing it foorth.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Wars, 151. The People … are very sparing in imposing and granting Subsidies.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1684), 98. The Books of Scripture … are often silent, or very sparing, in the particular Names of Fishes.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 154. The ancient Romans were very sparing in the use of wine.
1797–1805. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 447. [She was] sparing in all she provided for herself.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 389. It was no longer necessary for the King to be sparing in the use of … his undoubted prerogative.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), III. ii. 71. And they, who had the power, were not sparing in the use of it.
(b) 1615. Day, Festivals, v. 120. Giue me one that is greedy, and Covetous & to to sparing of expences.
1683. D. A., Art Converse, 55. Be sparing of your complements before his rivals.
1735. Berkeley, Free-think. in Mathem., § 34, Wks. 1871, III. 320. I advise you to be more sparing of hard words.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 1, ¶ 7. He is now grown sparing of communication.
1824. Miss L. M. Hawkins, Annaline, I. 33. He is as sparing of his letters as a brewer of his malt.
1880. Ruskin, Bible Amiens, i. (1884), 4. [One] neither wasteful of his time nor sparing of it.
(c) 1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxxv. (1674), 92. [He] was not sparing for any pains, in procuring that the Sentence might prove favourable on his side.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. § 14. Those who talk so confidently of them are so sparing to tell us which they are.
2. a. Characterized by reticence or restraint in discourse or statement.
1568. E. Dering (title), A sparing Restraint, of many lauishe Vntruthes.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 194. For reuerence to some aliue I giue a sparing limit to my Tongue.
1601. W. W[atson] (title), A Sparing Discoverie of ovr English Iesvits.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. vi. 364. A very sparing and reserved allegation of a great authority.
1901. Harper’s Mag., CII. 805/2. A certain sparing touch, with which he presents situation and character by mere statement of fact.
b. Marked by economy or frugality.
1611. Cotgr., Taillé d’espargne, cut with sparing worke.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. iii. (ed. 4), 438. To make the most of their jerked beef, by a very sparing distribution of it.
3. Small in amount, quantity or extent; not lavish, liberal or profuse; scanty, limited.
1602. Breton, Mother’s Blessing, xxiii. The sparing diet is the spirits feast.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 147. Mouthes rather large then sparing.
1672. Grew, Anat. Pl., Idea, 10. The supplies from the Root being yet but slow and sparing.
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 355. Be mindful of that sparing board, Which covers yours with luxury profuse.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 595. Where only the sparing use of lime is admissible, it should be used to the coping.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., iii. § 5. 187. The sparing solubility of chloroform in water.
b. With agent-nouns: Slight, very moderate.
1860. Smiles, Self-Help, x. 273. Many of our most energetic and useful workers have been but sparing readers.
1883. V. Stuart, Egypt, 230. He was a wonderfully sparing sleeper.
4. Forbearing; merciful, considerate.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egiptian), 733. To god ay lowynge be, þat … sparand Is to wrak of synful.
1605. Shaks., Lucr., 1687. Let the traitor die; For sparing justice feeds iniquity.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 33 (J.). Their King … was sparing, and compassionate towards his Subiects.
1658–9. in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 329. It is easy to misconstrue the debates of this House if we be not sparing one with the other.
1786. Burns, Holy Fair, xxi. Black Russell is na spairan: His piercin words like Highlan swords Divide the joints an’ marrow.
5. As adv. Sparingly.
1623. Penkethman, Handf. Hon., II. xvii. Thy gaines vse sparing.
1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. xxiii. Wks. (1677), 42. I will never censure any man,… but sparing, and with modesty.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 49. Part with it as with money, sparing.
