poverty
UK: ˈpɒvəti | US: ˈpɑːvərti
n. the state of being extremely poor
n. a lack of something desirable or necessary
The word "poverty" traces back to the Old French term poverte, derived from Latin paupertās, meaning "scarcity" or "lack." The root pover (from Latin pauper, "poor") combines with the noun-forming suffix -ty (from Latin -tās), which denotes a state or condition. Over time, the term evolved in Middle English to specifically emphasize material deprivation, reflecting societal views on economic hardship. The morpheme pover preserves the core idea of "poor," while -ty abstracts it into a state of being.
Millions of people live in poverty due to unequal resource distribution.
The documentary highlighted the poverty of opportunities in rural areas.
His generosity contrasted sharply with his childhood marked by poverty.
Poverty alleviation programs require sustainable economic policies.
The novel explores the spiritual poverty of modern urban life.