sav´er

save¹ «sayv», verb, saved, sav|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to make safe from harm, danger, hurt, or loss; rescue: »

The dog saved the boy's life. The woman saved her jewels from the fire.

SYNONYM(S): deliver, redeem.

2. to keep safe from harm, danger, hurt, or loss; proct: »

to save one's honor. The loan saved my credit, and made my fortune (Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton).

SYNONYM(S): safeguard, shield, preserve.

3. to lay aside; store up: »

to save rubber bands. The father is saving money for his son's education.

SYNONYM(S): hoard, reserve.

4. to keep from spending or wasting: »

Save your strength.

5. to prevent; make less: »

to save work, to save trouble, to save expense. A stitch in time saves nine.

6. to treat carefully to lessen wear or weariness: »

Large print saves one's eyes.

7. to prevent the loss of: »

Another goal will save the game.

8. to set free from sin and its results: »

The Christian religion teaches that Christ came to save the world.

SYNONYM(S): deliver, redeem.

9. Especially British. to avoid missing: »

The note must go this instant to save the post (Thackeray).

–v.i.

1. to keep a person or thing from harm, danger, hurt, or loss.

2. to lay up money; add to one's property.

3. to avoid expense or waste; be economical: »

She saves in every way she can.

–n.

the act of saving, especially a play that keeps an opponent from scoring or winning in a game: »

The…goalie…had a comparatively easy time of it. He had to make only three saves in the first period (New York Times).

╂[< Old French sauver, earlier salver < Late Latin salvāre < Latin salvus safe]

–sav´er, noun.

save² «sayv», preposition, conjunction.

–prep.

except; but: »

He works every day save Sundays. He heard no other sound save…his own breathing (James M. Barrie).

–conj.

1. excepting.

2. Archaic. unless.

╂[variant of safe, in sense of “not being involved”; probably patterned on French sauf safe, used in an absolute construction]