sparing (adj.) Copy link • sparing (adj.): parcus (absol. or with gen. of that which is sparingly used; also in and abl.): to offer with s. hand, p. manu offerre, Hor. Od. 3, 16, 43: s. of blood, p. sanguinis (civium), Tac. H. 3, 75: too s. in the bestowment of the franchise, nimium p. in largienda civitate, Cic. Balb. 22. See also frugal, economical. Stronger than parcus, are sordidus (v. mean) and mălignus (v. stingy, STINTED). Tenax = close-fisted. To be s. of anything, parcere with dat. (v. to spare): foll. by inf., Hor. S. 2, 2, 58, nisi mutatum, parcit defendere vinum.