Words / C1

PEN-y-uh-ree/ˈpenjəri/

Penury is extreme poverty: penury on the night-bus line, reduced to penury. Poor (already in the dictionary) is everyday; character is not a budget hole.

Meaning

Extreme poverty (from poor, already in the dictionary).

Examples

• “Penury on the night-bus line is a budget hole, not “character”.”
• “Poor is already in this course. Destitution is the close twin. Character is a slogan. A line in the budget is cover. Earmark the night-bus line; then keep the character if the bus still runs.”

Good to know

Extreme poverty. Everyday: poor (already in the dictionary). “Character” ≠ a budget line.

Near in meaning

poverty, destitution, want

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