| 释义 |
nig·gard
I. \ˈnigə(r)d\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English nigart, nigard, niggard, probably from earlier nig niggard (of Scandinavian origin) + -art, -ard; akin to Old Norse hnøggr niggardly, stingy, hnøggva, hnyggja to humble, bring down; akin to Old English hnēaw niggardly, stingy, Old High German hniuwan to crush, Greek knyein to scratch, knoos, knous grating noise of an axle, sound of footsteps, knuos itch, Latvian knūt, knūst to itch and to Latin ciner-, cinis ashes — more at incinerate
: a person meanly close and covetous : miser
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English nigart, adjective & noun
1. : niggardly, stingy
< niggard storekeepers who refused to pay … his modest monthly honorarium — Ben Riker >
< cold, unappreciative, very niggard in even modified praise — Arnold Bennett >
2. : resulting from or displaying niggardliness : scanty
< the shop-windows' show is niggard and shabby — W.C.Brownell >
III. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
intransitive verb
obsolete : to act niggardly
transitive verb
obsolete : to treat in a niggardly manner |