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Today it means

frugal

sparing with money or food

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Where does the word "frugal" come from? It comes from Latin frugalis, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

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Where does the word "frugal" come from? It comes from Latin frugalis, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

Frugal’s story begins in Latin: frugalis meant “economical.” From 'frux', fruit, produce: living on one's produce. It reached English by 1590s as frugal. 'frugality' followed. Today, frugal means sparing with money or food.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient frugalis "economical", from 'frux', fruit, produce: living on one's produce.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1590s frugal "economical", 'frugality' followed.

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