niggardly

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.4 Adverb 1.5 Usage notes

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From niggard + -ly.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈnɪɡədli/

[edit] Adjective

niggardly (comparative more niggardly, superlative most niggardly)

1. Withholding for the sake of meanness; stingy, miserly.

[edit] Synonyms

• miserly, stingy.
• See also Wikisaurus:stingy

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adverb

niggardly (comparative more niggardly, superlative most niggardly)

1. (now rare) In a parsimonious way; sparingly, stingily.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York 2001, p. 105:

     because many families are compelled to live niggardly, exhaust and undone by great dowers, none shall be given at all, or very little [...].

[edit] Usage notes

Some people have found this term offensive, because it looks or sounds like the term “nigger”. The two words are unrelated. See also Wikipedia:Niggardly.