Word of the Day

Friday, January 31, 2003

impecunious

\im-pih-KYOO-nee-uhs\ , adjective;

Not having money; habitually without money; poor.

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Quotes:

Her father, Bronson, was a respected but impecunious New England transcendentalist who had 'no gift for money making', according to [Louisa May] Alcott's journal.'

-- "Blood and Thunder in Concord", New York Times, September 10, 1995

He had gotten to know Garibaldi during the impecunious soldier's last years and would send him woolen socks, underwear, and money.

-- Tag Gallagher, The Adventures of Roberto Rossellini

It may be urged that an impecunious defendant would be unable to bear the expense of an appeal and would have to let it go by default.

-- Charles C. Nott Jr., "Coddling the Criminal", The Atlantic, February 1911

Origin:

Impecunious is derived from Latin im-, in-, "not" + pecuniosus, "rich," from pecunia, "property in cattle, hence money," from pecu, "livestock."