v. stint·ed, stint·ing, stints v.intr. 1. To be frugal or economical in providing something; hold back: The host did not stint on the wine. He does not stint when providing advice. 2. Archaic To stop or desist. v.tr. 1. a. To restrict (someone) in what is provided or allowed: "found his living so expensive that he had to stint his family" (William Marvel). b. To restrict (something supplied); be sparing with. 2. Archaic To cause to stop. n. 1. A length of time spent in a particular way, especially doing a job or fulfilling a duty: a two-year stint in the military. 2. A limitation or restriction: working without stint. [Middle English stinten, to cease, from Old English styntan, to blunt.] stinter n. stinting·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.