FRUGAL Fru"gal, a. Etym: [L. frugalis, fr. frugi, lit., for fruit; hence, fit for food, useful, proper, temperate, the dative of frux, frugis, fruit, akin to E. fruit: cf. F. frugal. See Fruit, n.]
1. Economical in the use or appropriation of resources; not wasteful or lavish; wise in the expenditure or application of force, materials, time, etc.; characterized by frugality; sparing; economical; saving; as, a frugal housekeeper; frugal of time. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. Milton.
2. Obtained by, or appropriate to, economy; as, a frugal fortune. "Frugal fare." Dryden.
FRUGALITY Fru*gal"i*ty, n.; pl. Frugalities. Etym: [L. frugalitas: cf. F. frugalité.]
1. The quality of being frugal; prudent economy; that careful management of anything valuable which expends nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is used to a profitable purpose; thrift; —- opposed to extravagance. Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits. Burke.
2. A sparing use; sparingness; as, frugality of praise.
Syn.
— Economy; parsimony. See Economy.
FRUGALLY
Fru"gal*ly, adv.
Defn: Thriftily; prudently.
FRUGALNESS
Fru"gal*ness