What is "to spare one's self"

Spare \Spare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared; p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. sp[ae]r spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. spar?n, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See Spare, a.]

1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. ``No cost would he spare.''
   --Chaucer.

   [Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare.
   --Milton.

   He that hath knowledge, spareth his words.
   --Prov. xvii. 27.

2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.

   Be pleased your plitics to spare.
   --Dryden.

   Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you.
   --Dryden.

3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.

   Spare us, good Lord.
   --Book of Common Prayer.

   Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages.
   --Milton.

   Man alone can whom he conquers spare.
   --Waller.

4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.

   All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he ?estowed on . . . serving of God.
   --Knolles.

5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with. Where angry Jove did never spare One breath of kind and temperate air. --Roscommon. I could have better spared a better man. --Shak. To spare one's self.

   1. To act with reserve. [Obs.]

      Her thought that a lady should her spare.
      --Chaucer.

   2. To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.