penurious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite not having enough money to pay for necessities
    pinched; penniless; in straitened circumstances; impecunious; hard up.
  2. adjective satellite excessively unwilling to spend
    parsimonious.
    • parsimonious thrift relieved by few generous impulses
    • lived in a most penurious manner--denying himself every indulgence

WordNet

Pe*nu"ri*ous adjective
Etymology
From Penury.
Definitions
  1. Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly. "A penurious niggard of his wealth." Milton.
  2. Not bountiful or liberal; scanty.
    Here creeps along a poor, penurious stream. C. Pitt.
  3. Destitute of money; suffering extreme want. Obs. "My penurious band." Shak. Syn. -- Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; miserly; niggardly; stingy. See Avaricious. --Pe*nu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pe*nu"ri*ous*ness, n.

Webster 1913