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Spare vs Help - What's the difference?

spare | help |

In intransitive terms the difference between spare and help

is that spare is to be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious while help is to provide assistance.

In transitive terms the difference between spare and help

is that spare is (to give up) To deprive oneself of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with while help is to avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can.

As nouns the difference between spare and help

is that spare is the act of sparing; moderation; restraint while help is action given to provide assistance; aid.

As verbs the difference between spare and help

is that spare is to show mercy while help is to provide assistance to (someone or something).

As an adjective spare

is scanty; not abundant or plentiful.

spare

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) spare, spar, from (etyl) ‘thick’).

Adjective

(er)
  • scanty; not abundant or plentiful.
  • a spare diet
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 24 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3 , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=Jones’ sad eyes betray a pervasive pain his purposefully spare dialogue only hints at, while the perfectly cast Brolin conveys hints of playfulness and warmth while staying true to the craggy stoicism at the character’s core. }}
  • sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
  • * Carew
  • He was spare , but discreet of speech.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2009, date=April 12, author=Phil Patton, title=At VW, the Italian Accent Gets Stronger, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=Under Hartmut Warkuss, its design director until 2003, Volkswagen styling celebrated its Teutonic origins and the spare modernist tradition expressed in Braun radios and coffee makers, reference points for the neomodern simplicity of the iPod. }}
  • Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous.
  • I have no spare time.
  • * Spenser
  • if that no spare clothes he had to give
  • Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency.
  • a spare''' anchor; a '''spare bed or room
  • lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
  • * Shakespeare
  • O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones.
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) slow
  • (Grose)
    Derived terms
    * go spare * spare part * spare time * spare tire * spare tyre * spare wheel

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of sparing; moderation; restraint.
  • * Holland
  • Killing for sacrifice, without any spare .
  • Parsimony; frugal use.
  • * Spenser
  • Poured out their plenty without spite or spare .
  • An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket.
  • That which has not been used or expended.
  • A spare part, especially a spare tire.
  • (bowling) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare.
  • (bowling) The act of knocking down all remaining pins in second ball of a frame; this entitles the pins knocked down on the next ball to be added to the score for that frame.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) sparen, sparien, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (spar)
  • To show mercy.
  • # To desist; to stop; to refrain.
  • # To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.
  • # To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy.
  • #* Bible, (w) vi. 34
  • He will not spare in the day of vengeance.
  • #* 1883 , (Robert Louis Stevenson), (Treasure Island)
  • Kill me, if you please, or spare me.
  • #* {{quote-news, date=21 August 2012, first=Ed, last=Pilkington, newspaper=The Guardian
  • , title= Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die? , passage=Reggie Clemons has one last chance to save his life. After 19 years on death row in Missouri for the murder of two young women, he has been granted a final opportunity to persuade a judge that he should be spared execution by lethal injection.}}
  • To keep.
  • # To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.
  • #* (rfdate) (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • I, who at some times spend, at others spare , / Divided between carelessness and care.
  • # To keep to oneself; to forbear to impart or give.
  • #* (rfdate) (John Milton)
  • [Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare .
  • #* (rfdate) Bible, Proverbs xvii. 27
  • He that hath knowledge, spareth his words.
  • # (transitive)} To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.
  • #* (rfdate) (Knolles)
  • All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he bestowed on serving of God.
  • (to give up) To deprive oneself of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
  • * (rfdate) (Roscommon)
  • Where angry Jove did never spare / One breath of kind and temperate air.
  • * (rfdate) (Shakespeare)
  • I could have better spared a better man.
  • * , chapter=22
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part.

    Anagrams

    * * * * * * * * * * * * ----

    help

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Action given to provide assistance; aid.
  • I need some help with my homework.
  • (usually, uncountable) Something or someone which provides assistance with a task.
  • He was a great help to me when I was moving house.
    I've printed out a list of math helps .
  • Documentation provided with computer software, etc. and accessed using the computer.
  • I can't find anything in the help about rotating an image.
  • (usually, uncountable) One or more people employed to help in the maintenance of a house or the operation of a farm or enterprise.
  • The help is coming round this morning to clean.
    Most of the hired help is seasonal, for the harvest.
  • (uncountable, euphemistic) Correction of deficits, as by psychological counseling or medication or social support or remedial training.
  • His suicide attempts were a cry for help .
    He really needs help in handling customer complaints.
    ''"He's a real road-rager." / "Yup, he really needs help , maybe anger management."
    Usage notes
    The sense "people employed to help in the maintenance of a house" is usually an uncountable mass noun. A countable form - "a hired help''", "''two hired helps " - is attested, but now less common.
    Synonyms
    * (action given to provide assistance) aid, assistance * (person or persons who provide assistance) * (person employed to help in the maintenance of a house)
    Derived terms
    * cry for help * help desk * helpful * helpless * helpline * helply * helpmate * helpmeet * helpsome * home help * self-help

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) helpen, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To provide assistance to (someone or something).
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=76, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Snakes and ladders , passage=Risk is everywhere.
  • To contribute in some way to.
  • To provide assistance.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help , and he stripped off his tunic at once.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= A punch in the gut , passage=Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.}}
  • To avoid; to prevent; to refrain from; to restrain (oneself). Usually used in nonassertive contexts with can .
  • Usage notes
    * Use 3 is often used in the imperative mood as a call for assistance. * In uses 1, 2 and 3, this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . It can also take the bare infinitive with no change in meaning. * In use 4, can't help is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) or, with but, the bare infinitive. * For more information, see
    Synonyms
    * (provide assistance to) aid, assist, come to the aid of, help out * (contribute in some way to) contribute to * (provide assistance) assist
    Derived terms
    * a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down * can't help * helper * helping * help oneself * help out