frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

energetic, vigorous, brisk: The pony drew the dogcart at a
spanking pace.
spar° n. Nautical mast, yard, yard-arm, boom, boomkin, gaff, jigger,
mizen, Colloq stick, pole: The first gusts of the storm tore
the remaining canvas from the spars.
sparý v. 1 fight, box, exchange blows; shadow-box: He was once the
champion's sparring partner. 2 dispute, argue, bicker,
squabble, wrangle, bandy words, have words; fight, Colloq scrap:
I have better things to do than spar with you over breakfast
every day.
spare adj. 1 extra, surplus, supernumerary, auxiliary, supplementary,
additional; odd, leftover; in reserve, in addition: We got a
puncture, so Dad stopped and put on the spare wheel. Give them
the spare room. Have you a spare cigarette? 2 unoccupied,
leftover, leisure, free, surplus, extra; not spoken for: Her
demanding job left her very little spare time. 3 thin, skinny,
scrawny, cadaverous, gaunt, raw-boned, meagre, gangling,
lank(y), wiry, slim, slender; all skin and bones: The spare,
ragged figure crouched in the shadows, his hand outstretched in
supplication. 4 See sparing, below. 5 meagre, frugal, small,
skimpy, modest, scanty: Their meals were spare but wholesome.
--v. 6 save, rescue, deliver, redeem: Bill spared me from a
fate worse than death. Spare me the embarrassment of having to
ask for my money back. 7 pardon, let go, release, have mercy on,
let off, free, liberate: At the last moment, the judge spared
him. 8 allow, relinquish, let go (of), give, award, bestow, let
have, donate, part with, give, yield: She decided she could
spare a couple of pounds for the disaster appeal. Buddy, can you
spare a dime? 9 avoid, dispense with, manage or do without, give
up, forgo, forsake, surrender, sacrifice: We spared a great
deal of trouble by settling the dispute. Spare the rod and spoil
the child.
sparing adj. 1 thrifty, saving, frugal, spare, careful, prudent,
parsimonious, economical, penurious, mean; penny-pinching,
stingy, niggardly, miserly, close, close-fisted, cheap, Colloq
tight, tight-fisted, Brit mingy: As sparing in his praise as he
was in his purse, General Waller rarely complimented his troops.
2 See sparse, 2 below.