Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Miser
Mi′ser
(mī′zẽr)
, Noun.
[L.
miser
wretched, miserable; cf. Gr. μῖσοσ
hate, μισεῖν
to hate: cf. It. & Sp. misero
wretched, avaricious.] 1.
A wretched person; a person afflicted by any great misfortune.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
The woeful words of a
miser
now despairing. Sir P. Sidney.
2.
A despicable person; a wretch.
[Obs.]
Shak.
3.
A covetous, grasping, mean person; esp., one having wealth, who lives miserably for the sake of saving and increasing his hoard.
As some lone
Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o’er.
miser
, visiting his store,Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o’er.
Goldsmith.
5.
A kind of large earth auger.
Knight.
Webster 1828 Edition
Miser
MI'SER
,Noun.
1.
A wretch; a mean fellow.2.
An extremely covetous person; a sordid wretch; a niggard; one who in wealth makes himself miserable by the fear of poverty. [This is the only sense in which it is now used.] No silver saints by dying misers given.