miser

plural misers

1. derogatoryA person who hoards money rather than spending it; one who is cheap or extremely parsimonious.First known use late 16th c.

   Scrooge was a typical miser: spending nothing he could save, nor enjoying his wealth.

   2 more examples

   […] foꝛ it was many times notoꝛious vnto al mẽ, yͭ he did eate in his houſe no other fleſh by the ſpace of iii. dayes, but on Hare, whiche was ſent him. He was ſuch a miſer to ſpend, ⁊ ſo deſirous to hooꝛd and lay vp money, yͭ had it not béene foꝛ ſome dayes of ſacrifices, oꝛ his bidden gueſts, not a moꝛsel of fleſh was eaten in his houſe: but only fed of his pꝛouiſion from his garden.

   1577, Antonio de Guevara, translated by Edward Hellowes, A Chronicle, Conteyning the Liues of Tenne Emperours of Rome […] , London: Ralph Newbery, page 257

   You've been keeping love from me just like you were a miser / And I'll admit I wasn't very smart

   1958, David Seville, “Witch Doctor”

   Antonyms: big spender, dingthrift, neve, overspender, prodigal, profligate, saprophage, scattergood

2. obsoleteA person who is wretched or despicable; a wretch.

   […] a poore virgin ſir, an il-fauor’d thing ſir, but mine owne, a poore humour of mine ſir, to take that that no man elſe will: rich honeſtie dwels like a miſer ſir, in a poore houſe, as your Pearle in your foule oyſter.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv], page 206, column 1

3. A kind of earth auger, typically large-bored and often hand-operated.

plural Misers

1. A surname.