Question

Read the excerpt from “The Gift of the Magi” below and answer the question. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas What is the meaning of the word parsimony as it is used above?

Answer 1

Answer: not willing to spend money

Explanation: In this excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, the meaning of the word parsimony as it is used means not willing to spend money. Della has been saving money for his husband´s present. This was done by forcing the grocer, the vegetable man and the butcher to lower the prizes for her. This showed her unwillingness to spend money.

Answer 2

Parsimony, extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources.