'To spare one's self' definitions:

Definition of 'To spare one's self'

From: GCIDE

Spare \Spare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared; p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. spaer 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. [1913 Webster]
[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. --Prov. xvii. 27. [1913 Webster]
2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give. [1913 Webster]
Be pleased your plitics to spare. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to. [1913 Webster]
Spare us, good Lord. --Book of Common Prayer. [1913 Webster]
Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Man alone can whom he conquers spare. --Waller. [1913 Webster]
4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty. [1913 Webster]
All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he ?estowed on . . . serving of God. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]
5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with. [1913 Webster]
Where angry Jove did never spare One breath of kind and temperate air. --Roscommon. [1913 Webster]
I could have better spared a better man. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
To spare one's self. (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Her thought that a lady should her spare. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] (b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame. [1913 Webster]