An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Spende

by Friedrich Kluge

Spende, f., ‘spending, alms,’ from MidHG. spënde, OHG. spënta, f., ‘present, gift, alms.’ ModHG. spenden, vb., ‘bestow as a gift, spend, distribute,’ from MidHG. spënden, OHG. spëntôn, ‘to distribute gratuitously,’ which was borrowed about the 7th cent. from MidLat. and Ital. spéndere (equiv. to Lat. expendere), ‘to spend’ (to which ModHG. Speise belongs); allied to E. to spend.