spare
/spɛr/
adjective
Origin
Old English
spær — slow to act; sparing; frugal; left unused
Overview
Meaning Now
- available to use or give away without affecting what is needed
- not occupied or in use; extra
- showing restraint; not excessive or elaborate
Literal older meaning
kept back, left over
Language path
Old English → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
spær
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
In English, spare developed early from ideas of being sparing, cautious, or withholding resources. Over time it came to describe something left unused, available as extra, or expressed with deliberate restraint.
Evolution
- Old English
spær
“frugal; sparing; cautious”
- Middle English
spare
“left over; available; not needed”
The sense broadened from frugality or withholding to anything unused or extra.
- Modern English
spare
“extra; available; restrained in use or style”
Connections
Word parts
spare
root
left over; frugal; restrained
Related across languages
Old Saxon
spar
sparing; frugal
Old High German
sparo
sparing; frugal
Old Norse
sparr
sparing; frugal
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Related to spare
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.