צָעַר (b. h.) 1) to be narrow, slender, young, v. צוֹעֵר, צׇעִיר. —2) to be restrained, suffer privation, pain. Taan. 11ᵃ, v. infra.
Hif. - הִצְעִיר to lessen; to subordinate. Gen. R. s. 6 (ref. to הצעיר, Gen. XLVIII, 14) על ידי שהיה מַצְעִיר את עסקיו וכ׳ because he subordinated his affairs (was contented with lesser services), he was privileged to be invested with the rights of the firstborn; הגדול שהוא מצעיר וכ׳ if a great man applies himself to minor services, how much more (is he praiseworthy)!—Part. pass. מוּצְעָר, q. v.
Pi. - צִיעֵר 1) to narrow, restrain; to inflict pain, annoy. Naz. 19ᵃ; 22ᵃ, a. e. (ref. to Num. VI, 11) ומה זה שלא צי׳ עצמו … המְצַעֵר עצמו וכ׳ if this (Nazarite) who denied himself only the enjoyment of wine is called a sinner, how much more so he who denies himself all enjoyments of life! Taan. 11ᵃ יִצְעַר … במשה רבינו שצי׳ עצמו וכ׳ man must suffer (deny himself enjoyments), when the community suffers; for thus we find that Moses afflicted himself (by sitting on a stone, Ex. XVII, 12) &c.; ib. וכל המצער עצמו עם וכ׳ (Ms. M. וכל המצער עם, insert עצמו, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) and he who afflicts himself in sympathy with the community, will be allowed to see the comfort of the community; Yalk. Gen. 148, a. e. המִצְטַעֵר. Snh. 11ᵃ אתה הוא שצִיעַרְתָּ לאבא wast thou the one who annoyed my father (with the smell of garlic)? Ab. Zar. 40ᵇ ואתה מְצַעֲרֵינִי and thou didst let me be in pain (without telling me of the remedy)?; a. fr.—2) *to suffer. Yalk. Is. 333, v. צָרַר.
Hithpa. - הִצְטַעֵר,