-tē, -ti adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from thrift + -y
1. : thriving by industry and frugality : increasing in wealth
this is a thrifty modern-looking town — Elihu Burritt
2. : growing vigorously : thriving
my flock is thriftier looking than a year ago — E.B.White
the bean plants stood erect in thrifty order — Pearl Buck
3.
a. : given to or evincing thrift : characterized by economy and good management : provident
she had been a prudent and thrifty wife to him — W.M.Thackeray
thrifty farmers whose hard work made the limestone region … a huge wheat granary — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager
b. : overly frugal : saving , sparse
ginger cookies with which she was not too thrifty when little girls passed by — Nancy Hale
only to be regretted that the references to literature are so very thrifty — Philosophic Abstracts
Synonyms: see sparing