n. [ OF. despense, F. dépense, buffet, buttery, fr. OF. despendre to spend, distribute, L. dispendere, dispensum. See Dispense, Spend. ] 1. A place where provisions are kept; a buttery; a larder; a pantry. [ 1913 Webster ]

In . . . his spence, or “pantry” were hung the carcasses of a sheep or ewe, and two cows lately slaughtered. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bluff Harry broke into the spence,
And turned the cowls adrift. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The inner apartment of a country house; also, the place where the family sit and eat. [ Scot. ] Jamieson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. despensier. See Spence, and cf. Dispenser. ] One who has the care of the spence, or buttery. [ Obs. ] Promptorium Parvulorum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the third Earl Spencer, who first wore it, or brought it into fashion. ] A short jacket worn by men and by women. Ld. Lutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A fore-and-aft sail, abaft the foremast or the mainmast, hoisted upon a small supplementary mast and set with a gaff and no boom; a trysail carried at the foremast or mainmast; -- named after its inventor, Knight Spencer, of England [ 1802 ]. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spencer mast, a small mast just abaft the foremast or mainmast, for hoisting the spencer. R. H. Dana, Jr. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Spent p. pr. & vb. n. Spending. ] [ AS. spendan (in comp.), fr. L. expendere or dispendere to weigh out, to expend, dispense. See Pendant, and cf. Dispend, Expend, Spence, Spencer. ] 1. To weigh or lay out; to dispose of; to part with; as, to spend money for clothing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spend thou that in the town. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? Isa. lv. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bestow; to employ; -- often with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

I . . . am never loath
To spend my judgment. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To consume; to waste; to squander; to exhaust; as, to spend an estate in gaming or other vices. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To pass, as time; to suffer to pass away; as, to spend a day idly; to spend winter abroad. [ 1913 Webster ]

We spend our years as a tale that is told. Ps. xc. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To exhaust of force or strength; to waste; to wear away; as, the violence of the waves was spent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their bodies spent with long labor and thirst. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To expend money or any other possession; to consume, use, waste, or part with, anything; as, he who gets easily spends freely. [ 1913 Webster ]

He spends as a person who knows that he must come to a reckoning. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To waste or wear away; to be consumed; to lose force or strength; to vanish; as, energy spends in the using of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sound spendeth and is dissipated in the open air. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be diffused; to spread. [ 1913 Webster ]

The vines that they use for wine are so often cut, that their sap spendeth into the grapes. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mining) To break ground; to continue working. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who spends; esp., one who spends lavishly; a prodigal; a spendthrift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of expending; expenditure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spending money, money set apart for extra (not necessary) personal expenses; pocket money. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who spends money profusely or improvidently; a prodigal; one who lavishes or wastes his estate. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

A woman who was a generous spendthrift of life. Mrs. R. H. Davis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Prodigal; extravagant; wasteful. [ 1913 Webster ]