noun
penury
Penury (noun) means a state of severe poverty, or a particular period spent in it.
noun
1
A state of severe poverty, or a particular period spent in it.
"The hardship, penury and hunger of the early 1930s is etched in the collective memory of older Americans."
— Oliver Kamm, The recession explained (2009)
2
A shortage of something, often used with 'of'.
3
Meanness with money; stinginess.
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Etymology
Came into English as Late Middle English penuri, penurie (“destitution, need, poverty; dearth, lack, scarcity”), borrowed from Latin pēnūria (“need, scarcity, want”) combined with the Middle English suffix -i, -ie (forming abstract and collective nouns). Its further origin is uncertain, though it may be related to paene (“almost, nearly; barely, hardly, scarcely”, adverb), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hate; to hurt”).
Related words
Rhymes for penury
See all rhymes for penury →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of penury?
"penury" (noun) means a state of severe poverty, or a particular period spent in it.
What is another word for penury?
Other words for "penury" include pauperism, indigence, pauperization, need.
What is the opposite of penury?
Opposites of "penury" include wealth, affluence, luxury.
What are the different meanings of penury?
"penury" has 3 main meanings: 1. A state of severe poverty, or a particular period spent in it; 2. A shortage of something, often used with 'of'; 3. Meanness with money; stinginess.
