Penury Meaning and Definition
Penury
Pronunciation
/ˈpiːnjəri/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A state of extreme poverty or scarcity; a condition of being in need of essential resources, such as food, shelter, or money.
Examples
- The government provided aid to those affected by penury in the disaster-stricken area.
- The community came together to help a family struggling with penury after a devastating loss.
Synonyms
- Poverty
- Beggary
Antonyms
- Wealth
- Affluence
Etymology
The word “Penury” comes from the Old French “pener”, meaning “to need” or “to lack”, which is derived from the Latin “paenare”, meaning “to mourn” or “to lament”.
Usage Notes
Penury is typically used to describe a state of extreme poverty or scarcity, often in the context of human suffering or social inequality.
Cultural References
In his novel “Les Misérables”, Victor Hugo describes the character Jean Valjean as struggling with penury due to his criminal past.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- Taking a leap of penury, meaning to take a risk or make a sacrifice in order to improve one’s situation.
Related Words or Phrases
- Poverty
- Neediness
- Destitution
Collocations
- Penury and hunger are often collocated to emphasize the severity of poverty.
Frequency of Use
Penury is a relatively rare word in modern language, but it is often used in academic or literary contexts to describe extreme poverty or scarcity.
Common Misspellings
- Penurie
- Penury