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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.

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.

Thriftily; prudently.

, n. Quality of being frugal; frugality.

Not frugal; wasteful; as, an infrugal expense of time. J. Goodman.

In a chary manner; carefully; cautiously; frugally.

Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, reckless, or spendthrift; saving; frugal. His rising reputation made him more chary of his fame. Jeffrey.

Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with of; as, to be choice of time, or of money.

raits, he will revert to the customs; but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality. Bacon.

ish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction. One frugal supper did our studies close. Dryden.

Moderate; sparing; frugal. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Managing with frugality; guarding against waste or unnecessary expense; careful and frugal in management and in expenditure; -- said of character or habits. Just rich enough, with economic care, To save a pittance. Harte.

One who economizes, or manages domestic or other concerns with frugality; one who expends money, time, or labor, judiciously, and without waste. "Economists even to parsimony." Burke.

To manage with economy; to use with prudence; to expend with frugality; as, to economize one's income. [Written also economise.] Expenses in the city were to be economized. Jowett (Thucyd. ). Calculating how to economize time. W. Irving.

Thrifty and frugal housekeeping; management without loss or waste; frugality in expenditure; prudence and disposition to save; as, a housekeeper accustomed to economy but not to parsimony. Political economy. See under Political.

One who manages or directs with prudence and economy; a frugal person; an economist. [R.] God knows how little time is left me, and may I be a good husband, to improve the short remnant left me. Fuller.

Frugal; thrifty. [R.] Tusser.

To manage with frugality; -- said of a woman. Dryden.

le; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health. We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury.

ssiduous; not slothful or idle; -- commonly implying devotion to lawful and useful labor. Frugal and industrious men are commonly friendly to the established government. Sir W. Temple.