Miserly
/ˈmaɪzərli/noun
Characterized by extreme unwillingness to spend or give money; stingy.
Did you know?Miserly is built on the same Latin root as misery and miserable: miser, meaning “wretched” or “unhappy,” so stinginess was once tied to a state of spiritual and emotional deprivation, not just cheapness.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
miser
“wretched, unhappy, pitiable”
Late Latin
Latin
miserabilis
“pitiful, miserable, worthy of pity”
Old French
Old French
miserable
“wretched, unfortunate”
Middle English
English
miserly
“stingy; mean with money”
Modern English
English
miserly
“unwilling to spend or give; extremely stingy”
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