penury
UK: ˈpɛnjʊri | US: ˈpɛnjəri
n. extreme poverty; destitution
n. scarcity or lack of something
The word "penury" traces back to Latin penuria, meaning "need" or "scarcity." It entered Middle English via Old French penurie, retaining its core sense of severe lack—whether of money or resources. The suffix "-ry" (a variant of "-ery") nominalizes the concept, emphasizing a state of deprivation. Historically, it evokes imagery of feudal or pre-modern hardship, where basic necessities were often scarce.
After losing his job, he fell into penury and struggled to feed his family.
The region's penury of clean water has led to widespread health crises.
Despite their penury, the villagers shared what little they had.
The novel depicts the penury of 19th-century industrial workers.
Economic policies failed to address the penury in rural areas.