thrift
/ˈθɹɪft/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.40 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Success and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity; profit.
Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable
verb
To shop or browse at a thrift shop; to buy (something) at a thrift shop.
name
A surname.
Example Sentences
- "His thrift can be seen in how little the trashman takes from his house."
- "The rest, […] willing to fall to thrift , as I have seene many souldiers after the service to prove very good husbands"
- "[…] it would appear that before taking this precaution Mr. Bree must have had the thrift to remove a modest competency of the gold […]"
- "The Meaning of Thrift. Thrift implies careful spending, maximum earning, and no wasting. Thrift means much more than the accumulation of a savings account. It means careful and well-considered use of materials as well as money, for even the wise use of money, basic as it is to thrift, is only one phase. Thrift means wise direction of time and effort. It means protection of health. Finally, it means intelligent care of human beings by the community, the State, and the Nation. The best way to begin a thrift movement is by studying simple household problems. From this individual inspection the larger social phases of thrift in community life must develop."
- "Usually, home mortgages are obtained from thrifts."
- "Bassanio: […]And many Jasons come in quest of her. O my Antonio, had I but the means To hold a rival place with one of them, I have a mind presages me such thrift, That I should questionless be fortunate!"
Etymology
From Middle English thrift, thryfte, þrift, from Old Norse þrift (“thriving condition, prosperity”). Equivalent to thrive + -t.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Usage
- Uncountable
- American usage
- Countable
- Obsolete