niggardly

niggardly
niggardly (adj.) 1560s, from NIGGARD (Cf. niggard) + -LY (Cf. -ly) (1).
It was while giving a speech in Washington, to a very international audience, about the British theft of the Elgin marbles from the Parthenon. I described the attitude of the current British authorities as "niggardly." Nobody said anything, but I privately resolved -- having felt the word hanging in the air a bit -- to say "parsimonious" from then on. [Christopher Hitchens, "The Pernicious Effects of Banning Words," Slate.com, Dec. 4, 2006]
As an adverb from 1520s. Related: Niggardliness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Niggardly — Nig gard*ly (n[i^]g g[ e]rd*l[y^]), a. Meanly covetous or avaricious in dealing with others; stingy; niggard. [1913 Webster] Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the steward to be niggardly. Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] Syn:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • niggardly — [nig′ərd′lē] adj. 1. like or characteristic of a niggard; stingy; miserly 2. small, few, or scanty, as if given by a niggard [a niggardly sum] adv. in the manner of a niggard; stingily SYN. STINGY1 niggardliness n …   English World dictionary

  • Niggardly — Nig gard*ly, adv. In a niggard manner. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • niggardly — index economical, illiberal, nonsubstantial (not sufficient), paltry, parsimonious, penurious, slight …   Law dictionary

  • niggardly — parsimonious, penurious, miserly, *stingy, close, closefisted, tight, tightfisted, cheeseparing, penny pinching Analogous words: *covetous, avaricious, grasping, greedy: *sparing, economical, frugal, thrifty: *mean, ignoble Antonyms: bountiful… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • niggardly — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ ungenerous or meagre …   English terms dictionary

  • niggardly — nig|gard|ly [ˈnıgədli US ər ] adj old fashioned [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: niggard ungenerous person (14 21 centuries), probably from a Scandinavian language] 1.) a niggardly gift, amount, salary etc is much too small and is given unwillingly ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • niggardly — [[t]nɪ̱gə(r)dli[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe someone as niggardly, you are criticizing them because they do not give or provide much of something. Officials say the EU, which is supposed to provide most of the food needs, is… …   English dictionary

  • niggardly — adjective 1 unwilling to spend money or be generous; stingy: The landlord was niggardly about repairs. 2 a niggardly gift, amount, salary etc is not worth very much and is given unwillingly: niggardly wages niggard noun (C) niggardliness noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • niggardly — UK [ˈnɪɡə(r)dlɪ] / US [ˈnɪɡərdlɪ] adjective Word forms niggardly : adjective niggardly comparative niggardlier superlative niggardliest formal 1) not generous, or not willing to spend money 2) a niggardly amount of money is very small and not… …   English dictionary

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