ppl. a. [UN-1 10.]
1. Showing no forbearance or mercy.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. vii. The pittilesse launce … (angry with being broken) … full of unsparing splinters, lighted upon that face.
1599. Daniel, Musoph., 323. No, no, vnsparing Time will prowdly send A warrant unto Wrath.
1649. Milton, Eikon., Pref. C. The unsparing Sword of Justice.
1770. Glover, Leonidas (ed. 5), vi. 166. Unsparing Mars Heap’d carnage round thee.
1781. Cowper, Lett., 2 April. Men of a rough and unsparing address.
1818. Mitford, Hist. Greece, V. 155. Unsparing of himself, he seems however to have been strongly disposed to be considerate of others.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, viii. Cool, decisive in manner, unsparing of enemies.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 244. His unsparing, merciless character,… never diverted from its fell purpose.
2. Not niggardly; liberal, lavish.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 344. Fruit of all kindes … She gathers,… and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand.
1736. Thomson, Liberty, V. 584. Unsparing love Their endless treasure, and their deeds their praise.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 677. Gratitude and temp’rance in our use Of what he gives, unsparing and profuse.
1819. Shelley, Cyclops, 167. See, here are sheep,… Here are unsparing cheeses of pressed milk.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 23. The four or five ideas … are … turned over and over again with so unsparing a profuseness, that [etc.].
Hence Unsparingness.
1818. Mitford, Hist. Greece, V. 426. His extraordinary … successes, but especially his profuse unsparingness of himself,… had [etc.].
