Pare (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paring.] [F. parer to pare, as a horse's hoofs, to dress or curry, as, leather, to clear, as anchors or cables, to parry, ward off, fr. L. parare to prepare. Cf. Empire, Parade, Pardon, Parry, Prepare.]

1.

To cut off, or shave off, the superficial substance or extremities of; as, to pare an apple; to pare a horse's hoof.

2.

To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin, ring, or outside part, from anything; -- followed by off or away; as; to pare off the ring of fruit; to pare away redundancies.

3.

Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen.

The king began to pare a little the privilege of clergy. Bacon.

© Webster 1913.