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avare

miserly

adjective noun ah-VAR Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Personality

Origin: from Latin avarus

Also means

stingy

Usage Note

Avare functions as both an adjective (il est avare, 'he is miserly') and a noun (un avare, 'a miser'). It is also the title of Molière's famous comedy L'Avare (1668), making it a culturally loaded word. Être avare de compliments ('to be sparing with compliments') is a common figurative use.

Examples

"Il est trop avare pour inviter ses amis au restaurant."

Natural Translation

He is too stingy to invite his friends to a restaurant.

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