Pen"u*ry (?), n. [L. penuria; cf. Gr. hunger, poverty, need, one who works for his daily bread, a poor man, to work for one's daily bread, to be poor: cf. F. p'enurie.]

1.

Absence of resources; want; privation; indigence; extreme poverty; destitution.

"A penury of military forces."

Bacon.

They were exposed to hardship and penury. Sprat.

It arises in neither from penury of thought. Landor.

2.

Penuriousness; miserliness.

[Obs.]

Jer. Taylor.

 

© Webster 1913.

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