Niggardly for Dummies

Student: What does the word "niggardly" mean?

Teacher: Ah, "niggardly," what an interesting word! Well, let's break it down, shall we? "Niggardly" is an adjective, which means it describes something. When we say someone or something is "niggardly," it means they are being very stingy or miserly with their resources or money. In other words, it's like when you have a jar of delicious cookies and you only give out one teeny-tiny crumb to your friends, not wanting to share the rest of the scrumptious treats. It's a bit selfish or tight-fisted behavior.

Imagine you and I are playing a game, and I have plenty of candy in a big jar, but I only let you take one tiny piece while I enjoy all the rest. That would be pretty niggardly, wouldn't it?

Now, it's important to note that "niggardly" might sound similar to a hurtful racial slur, but they have completely different meanings. The word "niggardly" comes from an old Scandinavian word "niggard," which actually means a stingy person. So, this word has nothing to do with race or skin color at all! It's just a coincidence that the two words sound similar.

To help make things clearer, think of "niggardly" as a completely separate word from that hurtful slur. It's like thinking that "cat" and "cap" mean the same thing just because they rhyme.

But wait, there's more! "Niggardly" can also describe a person or behavior that is overly cautious, hesitant, or not willing to take risks. It's like when your friends invite you to go on a thrilling roller coaster ride, but you're too afraid to give it a try because you're worried about every little thing that could go wrong. That kind of behavior can be described as niggardly too.

Imagine you're offered a chance to ride the biggest, most exciting roller coaster ever, but you're too scared to hop on because you're worried the safety bars might not work or the ride might be too fast. That would be a niggardly choice, wouldn't it?

So, in a nutshell, "niggardly" means being very stingy or miserly with resources or money, and it can also describe someone who is overly cautious or hesitant. It's important to remember that this word has nothing to do with race or skin color, and it's always good to ask questions and learn about different meanings of words to avoid any misunderstandings. Got it, champ?