sparidæ

pl. [Lat. spar ( us )= Chrysophrys aurata, the gilthead (q. v.); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ida.] 1. Ichthy.: Sea-breams; a family of Acanthopterygian Fishes, division Perciformes. Body compre ed, oblong, covered with scales; cutting teeth in front of jaws, or molars at sides, palate generally toothle . One dorsal, formed by a spinous and soft portion of nearly equal development; anal with three spines, ventrals thoracic. The family is divided into five groups based upon differences of dentition: Can thar in a, Haplodactylina, Sargina, Pagrina, and Pimelepterina. ( Günther .) 2. Palæont.: They appear first in the Chalk of Lebanon. spär-ing, pr. par. & a. [SPARE, v.] A. As pr. par.: (See the verb.) B. As adjective : 1. Saving, parsimonious, chary, frugal. "Christ upon just occasions was not sparing in the use of it."-Bp. Horsley: Sermons, vol. iii., ser. 31. *2. Scanty, little. "Of this there is with you sparing memory, or none; but we have large knowledge thereof."- Bacon . (Todd.) 3. Spare; not abundant; abstemious. "Be mindful of that sparing board." Thomson: Autumn, 355. *4. Merciful, kind; willing to pity and spare. spär-Ing-ly, adv. [Eng.sparing; -ly.] 1. In a sparing, frugal, or economical manner; frugally, parsimoniously. "And taught at schools much mythologic stuff, But sound religion sparingly enough." Cowper: Tirocinium, 198 2. Scantily; not abundantly; sparsely. "The borders whereon you plant fruit trees should be large, and set with fine flowers; but thin and sparingly , lest they deceive the trees." -Bacon: E ays; Of Gardens. *3. With abstinence or moderation; abstinently, moderately. "Christians are obliged to taste even the innocent pleasures of life but sparingly ." -Atterbury . *4. Seldom; not frequently. "The morality of a grave sentence, affected by Lucan, is more sparingly used by Virgil."-Dryden. *5. Cautiously, tenderly, with forbearance. "Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used; for discourse ought to be as a field, without coming home to any man."-Bacon: E ays; Of Discourse.