Word of the Day for Thursday August 4, 2005 parsimonious \par-suh-MOH-nee-uhs\, adjective: Sparing in expenditure; frugal to excess. His mother became increasingly parsimonious over the years, and even if there were a good doctor around she did not like to pay one. --Willard Sterne Randall, [1]George Washington: A Life Lehmann was famously parsimonious, and used postwar shortages as a cover for his economies. --John Richardson, [2]The Sorcerer's Apprentice He was extremely parsimonious with his words, parceling them out softly in a deliberate monotone as if each were a precious gem never to be squandered. --Michael Riordan and Lillian Hoddeson, [3]Crystal Fire _________________________________________________________ Parsimonious is the adjective form of parsimony, from Latin parsimonia, "thrift, parsimony," from parsus, past participle of parcere, "to spare, to be sparing, to economize." References 1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/080505992X/ref=nosim/lexico 2. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0226712451/ref=nosim/lexico 3. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393041247/ref=nosim/lexico Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=parsimonious