frugal

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 8, 2021 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>frugal</strong> &#149; \FROO-gul\&nbsp; &#149; <em>adjective</em><br /> <p><strong>:</strong> characterized by or reflecting <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/economy#h1">economy</a> in the use of resources</p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"<em>Frugal</em> diners might prefer hitting Ulrich's on Monday nights, when all burgers are $3 off. It's one of the best deals Downtown, or anywhere in town." — <a href="https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/nick-in-the-morning/2021/03/01/jims-bistro-among-best-burger-joints-in-peoria/6850216002/">Nick Vlahos, <em>The Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star</em>, 1 Mar. 2021</a></p> <p>"But a <em>frugal</em> lifestyle doesn't have to mean a deprived lifestyle. In fact, I've managed to whittle down my spending and boost my savings by making a few simple but meaningful choices." — <a href="https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/personal-finance/articles/4-frugal-living-tips-for-2021/">Maurie Backman, <em>The Motley Fool</em>, 19 Jan. 2021</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>Those who are frugal are unwilling to (<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lavishly">lavishly</a>) enjoy the fruits of their labors, so it may surprise you to learn that <em>frugal</em> ultimately derives from the Latin <em>frux</em>, meaning "fruit" or "value," and is even a distant cousin of the Latin word for "enjoy" (<em>frui</em>). The connection between fruit or value and restraint was first made in Latin; the Middle French word that English speakers eventually adopted as <em>frugal</em> came from the Latin adjective <em>frugalis</em>, a <em>frux</em> descendant meaning "virtuous" or "frugal." Although English speakers adopted <em>frugal</em> by the 16th century, they were already lavishly supplied with earlier coinages to