| 释义 |
▪ I. niggardly, a.|ˈnɪgədlɪ|
Also 6 nigardly, 6 (9 dial.) niggerly.
[f. niggard n. + -ly1.]
1. Having a niggard's nature; meanly parsimonious, close-fisted, stingy; sparing.
1571Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxv. 12 When the hande is bountifull, the heart may now and then be nigardly. 1621T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard 72 What a shame is it to young men..to shew themselues so pinching and niggardly in necessary beneuolences. 1666–7Pepys Diary 27 Feb., They going there..to eat his victuals, knowing him to be a niggardly fellow. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xxviii, Let us not be niggardly in our exhortation, but let all our fellow-prisoners have a share. 1831Mackintosh Hist. Eng. II. 104 This hoard..was too great to be formed by frugality, even under the penurious and niggardly Henry. 1873M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (1876) 86 The Israelites..were perpetually slack or niggardly in the service of Jehovah.
b. Const. of.
1624Bp. Hall Art Medit. Ep. Ded., Wks. (1625) 102, I would his humilitie had not made him niggardly of his name. 1663H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. ix. 28 Fortune hath been exceeding niggardly to me of her goods. 1817Malthus Popul. (ed. 4) II. 397 If the earth had been so niggardly of her produce as to oblige all her inhabitants to labour for it. 1844Ruskin Mod. Paint. I. Pref. (ed. 2), They are niggardly of the reputation which contributes to happiness.
2. Of actions, qualities, etc.: Characteristic of, or befitting, a niggard; mean, miserly.
1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. ii. i. 4 He accused God of lying, enuye, and niggardly grudgyng. 1583Babington Commandm. (1590) 381 The heart..by too neere and nigardlie keeping, transgresseth against this lawe of God. 1691Hartcliffe Virtues 87 That they do not sink into a niggardly or covetous temper. 1759Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 II. 156 By the niggardly treatment of good masters they have been driven out of the school. 1861M. Arnold Pop. Educ. France 149 Where everything..is left to be done by the parish, there is niggardly pinching. 1875Manning Mission H. Ghost iv. 114 If we treat friends in this niggardly and ungenerous manner.
Comb.1681W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 663 To give niggardly-wise.
3. Such as a niggard would give; meanly small; scanty, closely limited.
1599Nashe Lenten Stuffe Wks. (Grosart) V. 239 The niggardliest mouse of biefe will cost him sixpence. 1624Capt. Smith Virginia vi. 214 As I gathered from their niggardly relations in a broken language. a1628Preston Mt. Ebal (1638) 42 It is not any scanty or niggardly kinde of love that hee will like of. 1696S. Patrick Comm. Exod. viii. 28 Which hath made some think this was but a niggardly Concession of Pharoah's. 1798Jane Austen Northang. Abb. xvi, A living..of about four hundred pounds yearly value, was to be resigned to his son;..no niggardly assignment to one of ten children. 1859Meredith R. Feverel xxi, A niggardly confidence. 1878Huxley Physiogr. 295 The most niggardly computation which lies within the bounds of possibility.
▪ II. ˈniggardly, adv.
Also 6 nyger-.
[f. niggard a. + -ly2.]
In the manner of a niggard; parsimoniously, grudgingly, sparingly.
1530Palsgr. 839/2 Niggardly, seichement. 1534More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1226/1 Then shal he either nygerdly heape them vp together..or wastefully mysse spend theym. 1579J. Northbrooke Dicing 13 He is a couetous man that greedily & niggardly kepeth his own goods. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 9 The Spaniards, who in their owne Countries live most niggardly. 1703Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1721) 42 Young Heirs that have been niggardly bred generally turn Prodigals. 1790Wolcot (P. Pindar) Ep. Sylv. Urban Wks. 1812 II. 261 If midst a vulgar mass his stars unkind Have placed most niggardly a pigmy mind. 1868Nettleship Ess. Browning vii. 253 Whose life is niggardly doled to us in twelve short pages. |