Middle English Dictionary Entry
nigardī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nigardī(e n. Also nigardẹ̄ |
| Etymology | From nigard n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Stinginess, parsimony; (b) coll. niggards, misers; also, a miser.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1362 : Me greueth moost his nygardye [vrr. nyggardye, nygarde].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4805 : His fortune..Desdeigneth alle coveitise And hateth alle nygardie.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1306 : His nygardie Suffrith hys neghtburgh by hym sterue & dye.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)4/104 : Ye bitake a thousand on body That on lust not depart, fy, nygardy!
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)73/22 : The prynce ought well to see that the gyfte be suche that he be not blamed in no nigardie nor in no caityfenesse.
b
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)53 : The negardye [vrr. Nigardis, nygardes, negardes, negardys] in keping hir richesse Prenostik is thou wolt hir tour assayle.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)74/25 : Phylomytes gaue him without askyng a mantill with his good will, notwithstonding that he was right a grete negardye.