Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Penury
Pen′u-ry
,Noun.
[L.
penuria
; cf. Gr. [GREEK] hunger, [GREEK] poverty, need, [GREEK] one who works for his daily bread, a poor man, [GREEK] to work for one’s daily bread, to be poor: cf. F. pénurie
.] 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 1828 Edition
Penury
PEN'URY
,Noun.
Want of property; indigence; extreme poverty.
All innocent they were exposed to hardship and penury.