parsimonies

Noun

parsimony (usually uncountable, plural parsimonies)

1. (usually) With a negative connotation: great reluctance to spend money or other resources; miserliness, stinginess; (countable) an instance of this.
   • [T]he fauour of Princes and Magiſtrates noryſheth, augmenteth, and amplyfyeth all artes and ſciences by liberalitie, and extynguyſheth the ſame by miſerable couetouſnes and parcimonie.1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of...

   Synonyms:

   tightness

2. (archaic, usually) With a positive connotation: careful spending of money or other resources; frugality, thrift; (countable) an instance of this.
   • [T]he feeble and vveake complexion of our bodies; hath at al times ſerued as a ſoueraigne aduertiſement, to the holie life of ſobrietie and parſimonie.1593, [Charles Estienne], “For Infirmitie of the Bodie. Declamation, 10. That It is Better to be Sicke, then Alwaies Healthfull.”, in A. Mundy [i.e., Anthony Munday], transl., The Defence of...

   Synonyms:

   economy, sparingness, thriftiness

   1. (archaic, usually) The quality of not generously giving, showing, or using something intangible, such as emotion, praise, or words.
      • By this rememberance of that uſual parſimony in ovvners of VVit, tovvards ſuch as vvould make uſe of their plenty, I lament the fortune of others, and may vvith the Reader to congratulate mine; […]1650 January 12 (date written; Gregorian calendar), William D’avenant [i.e., William Davenant], “The Authour’s Preface to His Much Honour’d Friend Mr Hobs [i.e., Thomas Hobbes]”, in Gondibert: An...
   2. (archaic, usually) Chiefly in law of parsimony, principle of parsimony, etc.: the quality or characteristic of using the fewest facts or resources to explain a situation or to solve a problem.
      • Now it is manifest, that, against the assumption of a special principle, which this doctrine makes, there exists a primary presumption of philosophy. This is the law of Parcimony, which forbids, without necessity, the multiplication of entities, powers, principles, or causes; above all, the...a. 1857, William Hamilton, “Lecture XXXIX. The Regulative Faculty.—Law of the Conditioned, in Its Applications.—Causality.”, in H[enry] L[ongueville] Mansel and John Veitch, editors, Lectures on...