by MULRAH
HuginnGreiling wrote:
When its meaning is what the speaker or writer intends to convey. When skinflint won't do. When parsimonious doesn't say what the speaker intends. When cheap doesn't hit the mark. Each of these words has a meaning; and each meaning is distinctly different from that of niggardly. In my opinion, there isn't a good substitute for niggardly. To my mind, that's the hallmark of a useful word—a word we can't do without.
I did change my question slightly. Of course one could imagine come rare circumstance in which "niggardly" is the absolutely perfect word over any other. However, I am more interested in finding out whether you have actually recommended the use of this word or whether your response is purely hypothetical.
I too appreciate the specificity of words and the variety that English offers. However, I also realize that I am not the only person involved in communication. If what I say will be misconstrued, it is my responsibility to change how I communicate if I actually want to be heard.