sparesome

English

Etymology

Calque of German sparsam

Adjective

sparesome (comparative more sparesome, superlative most sparesome)

1. (nonstandard) economical; thrifty
   • 1864, Henry Mayhew, German Life and Manners as Seen in Saxony at the Present Day, page 285:

     […] the common remark being, “Oh! we must be sparesome now, the feast days are near at hand.”

   • 2010, Hemalata C. Dandekar, Michigan Family Farms and Farm Buildings, page 54:

     When my great-grandfather came to this country, Germany really didn't exist. He came from Württemberg. Now the Swabish people had the reputation similar to [what] the Scottish people have in the British Isles. We are the most sparesome, thrifty, stingy of all Germans.