thrift en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈθɹɪft/
Etymology
From Middle English thrift, thryfte, þrift, from Old Norse þrift (“thriving condition, prosperity”). Equivalent to thrive + -t.
Meanings
-
(uncountable) The characteristic of using a minimum of something (especially money).
[…] it would appear that before taking this precaution Mr. Bree must have had the thrift to remove a modest competency of the gold […]
1892, Ambrose Bierce, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians: Holy Terror:The Meaning of Thrift. Thrift implies careful spending, maximum earning, and no wasting. Thrift means much more than the accumulation of a savings account. It means careful and well-considered use of materials as well as money, for even the wise use of money, basic as it is to thrift, is only one phase. Thrift means wise direction of time and effort. It means protection of health. Finally, it means intelligent care of human beings by the community, the State, and the Nation. The best way to begin a thrift movement is by studying simple household problems. From this individual inspection the larger social phases of thrift in community life must develop.
1919 April, Flora Rose, Martha Van Rensselaer, “Lesson 123: A program of thrift for New York State”, in The Cornell Reading Course for the Farm Home. Thrift Series. Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. Published and Distributed in Furtherance of the Purposes Provided for in the Act of Congress of May 8, 1914, Ithaca, New York: New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University, pages 1765-1766 [61-62]:The rest, […] willing to fall to thrift , as I have seene many souldiers after the service to prove very good husbands
1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC:His thrift can be seen in how little the trashman takes from his house.
-
(US, countable) A savings bank.
Usually, home mortgages are obtained from thrifts.
- (countable) Any of various plants of the genus Armeria, particularly Armeria maritima.
-
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Success and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity; profit.
Hamlet: No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawning.
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:Bassanio: […]And many Jasons come in quest of her. O my Antonio, had I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift, That I should questionless be fortunate!
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Vigorous growth, as of a plant.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| thrifts | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
thrift-box · wastethrift · thriftful · thrifty · lavender thrift · dingthrift · thrifter · thrift store · misthrift · paradox of thrift · prickly thrift · ill-thrift · scapethrift · thrift shop · thriftless · thrift shopping · thriftster · thriftly · slipthrift · unthrift
Synonyms
frugality (characteristic of using a minimum of something)
Translations (79)
la frūgālitās (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ota اداره (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ja 浜簪 (various plants of the genus Armeria) · nl Engels gras (various plants of the genus Armeria) · cmn 節約 /节约 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · da sparsommelighed (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · sv sparsamhet (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fi säästäväisyys (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · el λιτότητα (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · hu takarékosság (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · es economía (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · nl Armeria (various plants of the genus Armeria) · de Grasnelke (various plants of the genus Armeria) · es ahorro (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ka მომჭირნეობა (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fa صرفهجویی (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be збо́рлівасць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fr armérie (various plants of the genus Armeria) · es parquedad (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · pl oszczędność (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · is geldingahnappur (various plants of the genus Armeria) · ka ეკონომიურობა (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · gl austeridade (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · bg песто́вност (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fr parcimonie (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · uk оща́дливість (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · uk оща́дність (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ja 節倹 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be экано́мнасць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · pl zawciąg (various plants of the genus Armeria) · ta சிக்கனம் (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · gl sobriedade (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · sk sporivosť (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fr économie (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ro cumpătare (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · pt frugalidade (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · it parsimonia (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · bg лъжниче (various plants of the genus Armeria) · is gullintoppa (various plants of the genus Armeria) · fr épargne (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · cmn 節儉 /节俭 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · bg спесто́вност (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · it economia (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · it risparmio (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · fi laukkaneilikka (various plants of the genus Armeria) · ka ზომიერება (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · sv trift (various plants of the genus Armeria) · ja 倹約 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · nb nøysomhet (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ko 절약 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · gl moderación (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ru эконо́мность (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be ашча́длівасць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be ашчэ́днасць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · de Sparsamkeit (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ka ყაირათი (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be беражлі́васць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ja アルメリア (various plants of the genus Armeria) · ga barainn (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · grc φειδωλία (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · it frugalità (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ga rabhán (various plants of the genus Armeria) · cs spořivost (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · nl zuinigheid (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · nn nøysemd (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · gl severidade (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · be ашча́днасць (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · tr tutumluluk (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · uk еконо́мність (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · nl spaarzaamheid (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ko 검약 (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · bg пестели́вост (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ga tábhacht (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · pt economia (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · la parsimonia (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ru бережли́вость (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · ka დამზოგველობა (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · uk бережли́вість (characteristic of using a minimum of something) · es parsimonia (characteristic of using a minimum of something)