penury — the state of being extremely poor; extreme poverty or destitution
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the state of being extremely poor; extreme poverty or destitution
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpenjʊri/
Example Sentences
- Despite his talent, the artist lived in penury until he was discovered.
- She went from penury to prosperity after winning the lottery.
- My wallet is in such penury that even my credit cards are embarrassed to be seen together.
penury
NOUN[/ˈpenjʊri/]
the state of being extremely poor; extreme poverty or destitution

Living in penury, the old man counts his last coins by candlelight.

A century turned luxury into penury
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'penuria' meaning scarcity or want, possibly related to 'paene' (almost) or derived from a root indicating deficiency or lack.
Breakdown
Latin 'penuria' (scarcity, want) + English suffix '-y' (noun/state) = penury (state of extreme poverty)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Despite his talent, the artist lived in penury until he was discovered.”
“She went from penury to prosperity after winning the lottery.”
“My wallet is in such penury that even my credit cards are embarrassed to be seen together.”
“The novelist wrote his masterpiece while living in penury in a tiny attic.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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