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spare

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spareness

Main Entry:: ²spare
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: spar·er; spar·est
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English spær sparing, scant; akin to Old High German spar spare
Date:: 14th century

1: not being used ; especially : held for emergency use <a spare tire>2: being over and above what is needed : superfluous <spare time>3: not liberal or profuse : sparing <a spare prose style>4: healthily lean5: not abundant or plentiful

synonyms see lean, meager

— spare·ly adverb

— spare·ness noun

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