[-NESS.] The quality of being stingy; niggardliness, meanness.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, 100. In expence of Money, Profusion and Stinginess.
1700–5. in Noake, Monast. Worcester (1866), 611. Good wine, poor soules, is so above ’em, Their stingienes won’t that allow ’em.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., xix. The stinginess of her father, who refused to part with a shilling to promote the match.
1876. Creighton, Age of Elizabeth, IV. i. 124. She [Elizabeth] learnt an economy which soon became habitual to her and degenerated into stinginess.
