unsparingadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈspɛːrɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənˈspɛrɪŋ/ 1. Showing no forbearance or mercy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > compassion > pitilessness > [adjective] > merciless
orelesseOE
sternc1275
fell?c1335
unmerciablea1382
wantona1393
mercilessc1400
unmercifula1425
gracelessc1425
unmercifula1450
unmerciless1545
unsparinga1586
spareless1589
unhuman1611
inclement1621
unmercied1627
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. vii. sig. Mm3v The pittilesse launce..(angry with being broken)..full of vnsparing splinters, lighted vpon that face.
1599 S. Daniel Musophilus 323 No, no, vnsparing Time will prowdly send A warrant unto Wrath.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης Pref. sig. C The unsparing Sword of Justice.
1770 R. Glover Leonidas (ed. 5) I. vi. 204 Unsparing Mars Heap'd carnage round thee.
1781 W. Cowper Let. 2 Apr. (1979) I. 461 Men of a rough and unsparing Address.
1818 W. Mitford Hist. Greece (new ed.) V. 155 Unsparing of himself, he seems however to have been strongly disposed to be considerate of others.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen viii Cool, decisive in manner, unsparing of enemies.
1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 244 His unsparing, merciless character,..never diverted from its fell purpose.
2. Not niggardly; liberal, lavish.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [adjective]
custyeOE
room-handeda1200
largea1225
free?c1225
plenteousc1350
bounteousc1374
liberalc1384
free-hearteda1398
ungnedea1400
royalc1405
opena1425
plentifula1475
profuse?a1475
ungrighta1475
lavishc1475
almifluent1477
prodigous1477
frank1484
bountiful1508
largifluent?a1525
munificent1565
magnificent1577
largeous1583
munifical1583
magnifical1586
free-handed1592
frolic1593
open-handed1593
magnific?1594
prodigal1595
goodwillya1598
communicativea1602
real1602
prodig1605
unniggard1605
generous1615
open-hearteda1617
large-handeda1628
unniggardly1628
fluent1633
profusive1638
numerous1655
largifical1656
insordid1660
unsparing1667
dispensive1677
expensive1678
wasteful1701
flush1703
unboundeda1704
genteel1741
munific1745
magnifique1751
ungrudginga1774
unstinting1845
brickish1860
flaithulach1876
princely1889
outgiving1896
sharing1922
two-handed1929
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 344 Fruit of all kindes..She gathers,..and on the board Heaps with unsparing hand. View more context for this quotation
1736 J. Thomson Prospect: 5th Pt. Liberty 584 Unsparing love Their endless treasure, and their deeds their praise.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 677 Gratitude and temp'rance in our use Of what he gives, unsparing and profuse.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Cyclops in Posthumous Poems (1824) 337 See, here are sheep,..Here are unsparing cheeses of pressed milk.
1856 N. Brit. Rev. 26 23 The four or five ideas..are..turned over and over again with so unsparing a profuseness, that [etc.].
Derivatives
unˈsparingness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > liberal giving > [noun] > liberality
freedomOE
custinessOE
largesse?c1225
freeshipa1250
franchisec1325
largitya1382
largenessa1387
liberalityc1390
bountya1400
honestya1400
freenessc1400
largec1400
liberalnessc1410
munificencec1425
plentyc1425
bounteousnessc1440
magnificencec1450
bountifulness1489
bountines1512
royalty1548
magnificency?c1550
munificency?c1550
free-heartedness1583
profuseness1584
bountihead1590
lavishness1590
frankness1591
ingenuousness1611
fruitfulnessa1616
generosity1634
open-handednessa1640
large-heartedness1640
communicativeness1653
unsparingness1818
free-handedness1860
big-heartedness1872
ungrudgingness1885
two-handedness1891
outgivingness1968
1818 W. Mitford Hist. Greece (new ed.) V. 426 His extraordinary..successes, but especially his profuse unsparingness of himself,..had [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1586