parsimony
[ pahr-suh-moh-nee ]
/ ˈpɑr səˌmoʊ ni /
noun
extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; niggardliness.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
parser, parsha, parsifal, parsimonious, parsimoniously, parsimony, parsis, parsley, parsley family, parsley fern, parsley piert
Origin of parsimony
1400–50; late Middle English parcimony < Latin parsimōnia, parcimōnia frugality, thrift, equivalent to parsi- (combining form of parsus, past participle of parcere to economize) or parci- (combining form of parcus sparing) + -mōnia -mony
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for parsimony
British Dictionary definitions for parsimony
parsimony
/ (ˈpɑːsɪmənɪ) /
noun
extreme care or reluctance in spending; frugality; niggardliness
Derived Formsparsimonious (ˌpɑːsɪˈməʊnɪəs), adjectiveparsimoniously, adverb
Word Origin for parsimony
C15: from Latin parcimōnia, from parcere to spare
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for parsimony
parsimony
early 15c., from Latin parsimonia "sparingness, frugality, thrift," from pars-, past participle stem of parsi, perfect tense of parcere "to spare, save, refrain from, use moderately" (which is said to be unrelated to Latin parvus "small," parum "too little") + -monia, suffix signifying action, state, or condition.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper