Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Adj.

[From

Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly.

“A penurious niggard of his wealth.”

Milton.

Not bountiful or liberal; scanty.

Here creeps along a poor,

penurious

stream.

C. Pitt.

Destitute of money; suffering extreme want.

[Obs.]

“My penurious band.”

Shak.

Syn. – Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; miserly; niggardly; stingy. See

–

Pe-nu′ri-ous-ly

adv.

–

Pe-nu′ri-ous-ness

Noun.

Adj.

[L.penuria, scarcity, want; Gr. poor; rare.]

Excessively saving or sparing in the use of money; parsimonious to a fault; sordid; as a penurious man. It expresses somewhat less than niggardly.

Scanty; affording little; as a penurious spring.