Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAR'-SI-MO-NY, n. [L. parsimonia, from parcus, saving, literally close. Parcus seems to be from the root of the G. D. bergen, Sax. beorgan, to save or keep, Eng. park. So in Russ. beregu is to keep or save, whence berejlivei, parsimonious. And this seems to be the root of burg, a borough, originally a fortified hill or castle.]

Closeness or sparingness in the use or expenditure of money; sometimes used perhaps in a good sense, implying due or justifiable caution in expenditure, in which sense it differs little from frugality and economy. More generally, it denotes an excessive caution or closeness; in which case, it is allied to covetousness, but it implies less meanness than niggardliness. It generally implies some want of honorable liberality. The ways to enrich are many; parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not innocent, for it withholdeth men from works of liberality. – Bacon.