n.
- an economy of or reduction in money, time, etc.
-
(savings)
money saved, especially through a bank or official scheme.
- Law a reservation; an exception.
adj.
[
in combination]
preventing waste of a particular resource:
an energy-saving light bulb.
prep.
- except.
- archaic with due respect to.
Etymology
ME: from save1; the preposition prob. from save2, on the pattern of touching.