Miser
'maɪzər
Definitions
A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible; a greedy person.
'maɪzər
A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
The old miser lived a lonely life, surrounded by riches he never enjoyed.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who loves money so much they never want to spend it! They keep it all to themselves, even when they need something. That's a miser! Like, imagine you have a whole jar of your favorite candy, but you won't share it with anyone or even eat it yourself.
👶 For kids: A miser is someone who likes money a lot and doesn't want to spend any, even if they need to.
More Examples
His reputation as a miser made it difficult for him to build any meaningful relationships.
Despite his wealth, the miser was known for his cheapness and stinginess.
How It's Used
"The old miser refused to spend a penny, even on essentials."
"Ebenezer Scrooge, in Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' is a classic miser."
Idioms & expressions
miser's purse
A purse or container that is kept tightly closed, symbolizing the miser's unwillingness to spend money.
"He kept his money in a miser's purse, never letting it out."
miser's delight
Refers to the joy a miser experiences in obtaining or accumulating money.
"The miser’s delight was palpable as he counted his increasing fortune."
From Middle English *myser*, from Old French *miser* (miserly person), from Latin *miser* (wretched, miserable).
The term 'miser' has been used since the 14th century, with its meaning relatively consistent throughout history, referring to someone excessively concerned with hoarding wealth.
Memory tip
Think 'miserable' - misers are often seen as unhappy because they are overly concerned with money.