Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of penurious - 2 dictionary results

pe⋅nu⋅ri⋅ous

  [puh-noor-ee-uhs, -nyoor-]
Use penurious in a Sentence
–adjective
1. extremely stingy; parsimonious; miserly.
2. extremely poor; destitute; indigent.
3. poorly or inadequately supplied; lacking in means or resources.
Origin:
1590–1600; < ML pēnūriōsus. See penury, -ous

Related forms:
pe⋅nu⋅ri⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
pe⋅nu⋅ri⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. tight, close, niggardly.

Antonyms:
1. generous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To penurious
pe·nu·ri·ous   (pə-nŏŏr'ē-əs, -nyŏŏr'-)   
adj.  

  1. Unwilling to spend money; stingy.

  2. Yielding little; barren: a penurious land.

  3. Poverty-stricken; destitute.


[From Medieval Latin pēnūriōsus, from Latin pēnūria, want.]
pe·nu'ri·ous·ly adv., pe·nu'ri·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see penurious on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way